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19 I called for those who love me, but they betrayed me.
    My priests and leaders breathed their last breath in the city,
        looking for food to keep themselves alive.

20 “O Yahweh, see the distress I’m in!
    My stomach is churning.
    My heart is pounding because I’ve been very bitter.
    In the streets swords kill my children.
    Inside the houses it’s like death.

21 “All my enemies have heard that I am groaning.
    No one offers me comfort.
    All my enemies have heard about my disaster.
    They are happy that you did it.
        You have allowed the day to come, the one that you had announced.
            Let my enemies be like me now.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 1:21 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

19 “I called to my allies(A)
    but they betrayed me.
My priests and my elders
    perished(B) in the city
while they searched for food
    to keep themselves alive.

20 “See, Lord, how distressed(C) I am!
    I am in torment(D) within,
and in my heart I am disturbed,(E)
    for I have been most rebellious.(F)
Outside, the sword bereaves;
    inside, there is only death.(G)

21 “People have heard my groaning,(H)
    but there is no one to comfort me.(I)
All my enemies have heard of my distress;
    they rejoice(J) at what you have done.
May you bring the day(K) you have announced
    so they may become like me.

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