☛本哀歌原文第一至第四章都是字母诗。
耶路撒冷的忧患
唉！先前人口稠密的城市， 现在为何独坐！ 先前在列国中为大的， 现在竟如寡妇！ 先前在各省中为王后的， 现在竟成为服苦役的人！How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!
2她☛“她”：本修订版的“国”和“城”的代名词都用“它”；本卷用“她”。夜间痛哭，泪流满颊， 在所有亲爱的人中，找不到一个安慰她的。 她的朋友都以诡诈待她， 成为她的仇敌。She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.
3犹大被掳， 遭遇苦难，多服劳役。 她住在列国中，得不着安息； 追逼她的在狭窄之地追上她。Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.
4锡安的道路因无人前来过节就哀伤， 她的城门荒凉， 祭司叹息， 少女悲伤； 她自己充满痛苦。The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.
5她的敌人作主， 她的仇敌亨通； 耶和华因她过犯多而使她受苦， 她的孩童在敌人面前去作俘虏。Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
6锡安☛“锡安”：原文直译“锡安女子”。的威荣全都失去。 她的领袖如找不着草场的鹿， 在追赶的人面前无力行走。And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
7耶路撒冷在困苦窘迫之时， 就追想古时一切的荣华。 她的百姓落在敌人手中，无人帮助； 敌人看见，就因她的毁灭嗤笑。Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.
8耶路撒冷犯了大罪， 因此成为不洁净； 素来尊敬她的，见她裸露就都藐视她， 她自己也叹息退后。Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
9她的污秽是在下摆上； 她未曾思想自己的结局， 她的败落令人惊诧， 无人安慰她。 “耶和华啊，求你看顾我的苦难， 因为仇敌强大。”Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.
10敌人伸手夺取她的一切贵重物品； 她眼见列国侵入她的圣所， 你曾吩咐他们不可进入你的集会。The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.
11她的百姓都叹息，寻求食物； 他们用贵重物品换取粮食，要救性命。 “耶和华啊，求你观看， 留意我多么卑微。”耶路撒冷的哀号
All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.
12所有过路的人哪，愿这事不要发生在你们身上☛“愿这事...身上”或译“这事你们不介意吗”；七十士译本和其他古译本没有本句。。 你们要留意观看， 有像这样临到我的痛苦没有？ 耶和华在他发烈怒的日子使我受苦。Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
13他从高处降火进入我的骨头， 克制了我； 他张开网，绊我的脚， 使我退后， 又令我终日凄凉发昏。From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.
14他用手绑我罪过的轭， 卷绕着加在我颈项上； 他使我力量衰败。 主将我交在我不能抵挡的人手中。The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the LORD hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.
15主弃绝我们当中所有的勇士， 聚集会众攻击我， 要压碎我的年轻人。 主踹下少女犹大☛“少女犹大”：原文直译“少女犹大女子”。， 在榨酒池中。The LORD hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the LORD hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.
16我因这些事哭泣， 眼泪汪汪； 因为那安慰我、使我重新得力的， 离我甚远。 我的儿女孤苦， 因为仇敌得胜了。For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.
17锡安伸出双手，却无人安慰。 论到雅各，耶和华已经出令， 使四围的人作他的仇敌； 耶路撒冷在他们中间成为不洁净。Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.
18耶和华是公义的！ 我违背了他的命令。 万民哪，请听， 来看我的痛苦； 我的少女和壮丁都被掳去。The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
19我招呼我所亲爱的， 他们却欺骗了我。 我的祭司和长老寻找食物，要救性命的时候， 就在城中断了气。I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.
20耶和华啊，求你观看， 因为我在急难中； 我的心肠烦乱， 我心在我里面翻转， 因我大大背逆。 在外，刀剑使人丧亡； 在家，犹如死亡。Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.
21有人听见我叹息☛“有人...叹息”：七十士译本是“听啊，我在叹息”。， 却无人安慰我！ 我所有的仇敌听见我的患难就喜乐， 因这是你所做的。 你使你所宣告的日子来临， 愿他们像我一样。They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.
22愿他们的恶行都呈现在你面前； 你怎样因我一切的罪过待我， 求你也照样待他们； 因我叹息甚多，心中发昏。Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.