📖 Lamentations — Chapter 1 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Lamentations 1:1 RHow 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!
Lamentations 1:2 She Rweepeth 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.
Lamentations 1:3 Judah is Rgone into captivity because of affliction, and Tbecause of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.
Lamentations 1:4 The Rways 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.
Lamentations 1:5 Her Radversaries 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.
Lamentations 1:6 And Rfrom 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.
Lamentations 1:7 Jerusalem Rremembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her Tpleasant 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.
Lamentations 1:8 Jerusalem Rhath grievously sinned; therefore she Tis removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
Lamentations 1:9 Her Rfilthiness 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.
Lamentations 1:10 The adversary hath Rspread out his hand upon all her Tpleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.
Lamentations 1:11 All her people sigh, they Rseek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat Tto relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.
Lamentations 1:12 RTIs it nothing to you, all ye that Tpass 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.
Lamentations 1:13 From Rabove 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.
Lamentations 1:14 The Ryoke 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.
Lamentations 1:15 The LORD hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to Rcrush my young men: the LORD hath trodden Tthe virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.
Lamentations 1:16 For these things RI weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should Trelieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.
Lamentations 1:17 Zion Rspreadeth 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.
Lamentations 1:18 The RLORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his Tcommandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
Lamentations 1:19 I called Rfor 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.
Lamentations 1:20 RBehold, 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.
Lamentations 1:21 They Rhave 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 Tcalled, and they shall be like unto me.
Lamentations 1:22 Let Rall 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.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Lamentations 1:1–8 — A once-full city sits alone
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jerusalem is pictured as a bereaved woman whose former honor, festivals, and security have vanished. Exile, affliction, and remembered pleasures are joined to an acknowledgment of grievous sin.
Key Truth: Take communal loss seriously and honestly.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “How doth the ____ sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she …” (Lamentations 1:1)
Find it in Lamentations 1:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her ____ are gone into captivity before the enemy.” (Lamentations 1:5)
Find it in Lamentations 1:5 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “____ hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured …” (Lamentations 1:8)
Find it in Lamentations 1:8 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Lamentations 1:9–15 — The city asks that her sorrow be seen
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jerusalem’s suffering becomes a direct plea to the Lord and to passersby. Lost bread, invaded sanctuary, fire, a net, and a yoke convey the depth of her affliction.
Key Truth: Do not pass suffering without attention.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Her ____ is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; …” (Lamentations 1:9)
Find it in Lamentations 1:9 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce ____ .” (Lamentations 1:12)
Find it in Lamentations 1:12 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… my young men: the LORD hath trodden the virgin, the ____ of Judah, as in a winepress.” (Lamentations 1:15)
Find it in Lamentations 1:15 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Lamentations 1:16–22 — Tears, confessed rebellion, and a plea for justice
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The grieving city describes absent comfort, deceiving allies, and hungry elders. She acknowledges that the Lord is righteous and asks him to see both her transgression and the enemy’s wickedness.
Key Truth: Join honest confession with a truthful cry for justice.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “… down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my ____ is far from me: my children are desolate, because the …” (Lamentations 1:16)
Find it in Lamentations 1:16 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “I ____ for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and …” (Lamentations 1:19)
Find it in Lamentations 1:19 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my ____ is faint.” (Lamentations 1:22)
Find it in Lamentations 1:22 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Jeremiah 9:1 — Jeremiah also longs to weep for the slain people.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Whose grief deserves your attentive presence rather than a quick explanation?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Which summary best distinguishes Lamentations 1:1–8 (A once-full city sits alone) from the chapter’s other sections?
2. Which summary best distinguishes Lamentations 1:9–15 (The city asks that her sorrow be seen) from the chapter’s other sections?
3. Which summary best distinguishes Lamentations 1:16–22 (Tears, confessed rebellion, and a plea for justice) from the chapter’s other sections?
4. What explanation accompanies Jerusalem’s captivity?
5. How does the speaker distinguish God’s justice from her own conduct?
Notes
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