Lamentations 1:4-6

Easy-to-Read Version

⁴ The roads to Zion are very sad,
    because no one comes to Zion for the festivals anymore.
All of Zion’s gates have been destroyed;
    all her priests groan in sorrow.
Zion’s young women have been taken away,^[a]
    and all this made Zion sad.
⁵ Jerusalem’s enemies have won.
    Her enemies have been successful.
This happened because the Lord punished her.
    He punished Jerusalem for her many sins.
Her children have gone away.
    Their enemies captured them and took them away.
⁶ The beauty of Daughter Zion^[b] has gone away.
    Her princes were like deer that cannot find a meadow to feed in.
    They walk away without strength from those who chased them.