Jerusalem’s Fall and Its Conqueror’s Judgment
1 When the sinner grew proud, with a battering-ram he knocked down fortified walls, and You did not restrain (him). 2 Foreign nations climbed onto Your altar; they trampled (it) proudly with their sandals; 3 Because the sons of Jerusalem had defiled the holy things of the Lord, and had defiled the offerings of God with their sins. 4 Therefore He said: Send them far away from Me; 5 It was treated as worthless in God’s presence; it was completely dishonored; 6 The sons and the daughters were in harsh captivity; their neck (was) sealed (?) and branded (?) among the nations. 7 He has dealt with them according to their sins, for He has abandoned them to those who overpowered them. 8 He has turned away His face rather than pity them, young and old and their children together; for they had all done evil by refusing to listen. 9 And the heavens were angry, and the earth detested them; for no one on it had done what they did, 10 And the earth recognized all Your righteous judgments, God.
11 They exposed the sons of Jerusalem to ridicule in return for (the) prostitutes in her; Every passerby entered in the full light of day. 12 They mocked with their sins, as they themselves used to do; In the full light of day they revealed their wrongdoing. 13 And the daughters of Jerusalem were defiled in accordance with Your judgment, because they had defiled themselves with unnatural intercourse. 14 These things cause pain deep in my stomach and throughout my body.
15 (And yet) I will declare You just, God, with an upright heart, for in Your judgments Your righteousness is (displayed), God. 16 For You have repaid the sinners according to their deeds, yes according to their sins, which were very wicked. 17 You have uncovered their sins, so that Your judgment might be clear; You have wiped out their memorial from the earth. 18 God is a righteous judge, and He shows no favoritism. 19 For the nations insulted Jerusalem, trampling it down; Her beauty was dragged down from the throne of glory. 20 She put on sackcloth instead of beautiful clothing, A rope (was) around her head instead of a crown. 21 She removed the glorious crown which God had placed on her; her beauty was thrown to the ground in dishonor.
22 And I saw and pleaded with the Lord and said, Long enough, Lord, has Your hand been heavy on Israel, by bringing the nations against (them). 23 For they have mocked without restraint in anger and fierce rage; And they will destroy everything, unless You, Lord, rebuke them in Your anger. 24 For they have done this out of greed rather than zeal, pouring out their anger upon us so that they could plunder. 25 Do not delay, God, in repaying them on (their) heads, to turn the pride of the dragon into dishonor.
26 And I did not have to wait long before God showed me the arrogant one killed on the mountains of Egypt, regarded as less important than anything else on land and sea; 27 His body, (too,) was carried back and forth on the waves with great contempt, with no one to bury (him), because He had rejected him with dishonor. 28 He did not consider that he was human. And he did not consider his final fate; 29 He said: I will be lord of land and sea; and he did not recognize that it is God who is great, mighty in His great strength. 30 He is king over the heavens, and judges kings and kingdoms. 31 (It is He) who lifts me up in glory, and brings down the proud to eternal destruction in dishonor, because they did not know Him.
32 And now, princes of the earth, look at the Lord’s judgment, for He (is) a great and righteous king, judging (all) that is under the heavens. 33 Bless God, you who fear the Lord with wisdom, for the Lord’s mercy will be on those who fear Him, in the Judgment; 34 So that He will distinguish between the righteous and the sinner, (And) repay the sinners forever according to their deeds; 35 And have mercy on the righteous, (delivering him) from the affliction of the sinner, and repaying the sinner for what he has done to the righteous.
36 For the Lord is good to those who patiently call on Him, acting mercifully toward His faithful people, keeping (them) strong in His presence at all times. 37 Blessed be the Lord forever in the presence of His servants.