"Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. The ways 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. Her adversaries 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."

Af trang og tyngende trældom udvandrede Juda; blandt folkene sidder hun nu og finder ej ro, alle forfølgerne nåede hende midt i trængslerne. Vejene til Zion sørger, uden højtidsgæster, alle hendes porte er øde, præsterne sukker, hendes jomfruer knuges af kvide, hun selv er i vånde. Hendes avindsmænd er herrer, hendes fjender trygge, thi kvide fik hun af Herren for mængden af synder, hendes børn drog bort som fanger for fjendens åsyn."