12 Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?
Look, and see if there be any sorrow like my sorrow, which is brought on me,
With which Yahweh has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. 13 From on high has he sent fire into my bones, and it prevails against them;
He has spread a net for my feet, he has turned me back:
He has made me desolate and faint all the day. 14 The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand;
They are knit together, they are come up on my neck; he has made my strength to fail:
The Lord has delivered me into their hands, against whom I am not able to stand. 15 The Lord has set at nothing all my mighty men in the midst of me;
He has called a solemn assembly against me to crush my young men:
The Lord has trodden as in a winepress the virgin daughter of Judah. 16 For these things I weep; my eye, my eye runs down with water;
Because the comforter who should refresh my soul is far from me:
My children are desolate, because the enemy has prevailed. 17 Zion spreads forth her hands; there is none to comfort her;
Yahweh has commanded concerning Jacob, that those who are around him should be his adversaries:
Jerusalem is among them as an unclean thing. 18 Yahweh is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment:
Please hear all you peoples, and see my sorrow:
My virgins and my young men are gone into captivity. 19 I called for my lovers, but they deceived me:
My priests and my elders gave up the spirit in the city,
While they sought them food to refresh their souls. 20 See, Yahweh; for I am in distress; my heart is troubled;
My heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled:
Abroad the sword bereaves, at home there is as death. 21 They have heard that I sigh; there is none to comfort me;
All my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have done it:
You will bring the day that you have proclaimed, and they shall be like me. 22 Let all their wickedness come before you;
Do to them, as you have done to me for all my transgressions:
For my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Lamentations 1:12-22
Commentary on Lamentations 1:12-22
(Read Lamentations 1:12-22)
Jerusalem, sitting dejected on the ground, calls on those that passed by, to consider whether her example did not concern them. Her outward sufferings were great, but her inward sufferings were harder to bear, through the sense of guilt. Sorrow for sin must be great sorrow, and must affect the soul. Here we see the evil of sin, and may take warning to flee from the wrath to come. Whatever may be learned from the sufferings of Jerusalem, far more may be learned from the sufferings of Christ. Does he not from the cross speak to every one of us? Does he not say, Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Let all our sorrows lead us to the cross of Christ, lead us to mark his example, and cheerfully to follow him.