12 They say to their mothers,
“Where is grain and wine?”
As they swoon like the wounded
In the streets of the city,
As their life is poured out
In their mothers’ bosom.

13 How shall I ^aconsole you?
To what shall I liken you,
O daughter of Jerusalem?
What shall I compare with you, that I may comfort you,
O virgin daughter of Zion?
For your ruin is spread wide as the sea;
Who can heal you? ‡

16 ^aAll your enemies have opened their mouth against you;
They hiss and gnash their teeth.
They say, ^b“We have swallowed her up!
Surely this is the ^cday we have waited for;
We have found it, ^dwe have seen it!” ‡

17 The Lord has done what He ^apurposed;
He has fulfilled His word
Which He commanded in days of old.
He has thrown down and has not pitied,
And He has caused an enemy to ^brejoice over you;
He has exalted the¹ horn of your adversaries. ‡