³ Judah has gone into exile because of affliction
    and hard servitude;
she dwells now among the nations,
    but finds no resting place;
her pursuers have all overtaken her
    in the midst of her distress.

⁴ The roads to Zion mourn,
    for none come to the appointed feasts;
all her gates are desolate,
    her priests groan;
her maidens have been dragged away,^[a]
    and she herself suffers bitterly.

⁵ Her foes have become the head,
    her enemies prosper,
because the Lord has made her suffer
    for the multitude of her transgressions;
her children have gone away,
    captives before the foe.