13 [a]What thing shall I take to witness for thee? What thing shall I compare to thee, O daughter Jerusalem? what shall I liken to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

14 Thy Prophets have[b]looked out vain and foolish things for thee, and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity, but have looked out for thee false [c]prophecies, and causes of banishment.

15 All that pass by the way, clap their hands at thee: they hiss and wag their head upon the daughter Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call, The perfection of beauty, and the joy of the whole earth?

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 2:13 Meaning, that her calamity was so evident, that it needed no witnesses.
  2. Lamentations 2:14 Because the false prophets called themselves Seers, as the others were called, therefore he showeth that they saw amiss, because they did not reprove the people’s faults, but flattered them in their sins, which was the cause of their destruction.
  3. Lamentations 2:14 Or, burdens.

13 What can I say for you?(A)
    With what can I compare you,
    Daughter(B) Jerusalem?
To what can I liken you,
    that I may comfort you,
    Virgin Daughter Zion?(C)
Your wound is as deep as the sea.(D)
    Who can heal you?

14 The visions of your prophets
    were false(E) and worthless;
they did not expose your sin
    to ward off your captivity.(F)
The prophecies they gave you
    were false and misleading.(G)

15 All who pass your way
    clap their hands at you;(H)
they scoff(I) and shake their heads(J)
    at Daughter Jerusalem:(K)
“Is this the city that was called
    the perfection of beauty,(L)
    the joy of the whole earth?”(M)

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