Lamentations 1:12
What does Lamentations 1:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Lamentations 1:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Lamentations 1:12 means
The city addresses strangers: “Is it nothing to you?” She invites all who pass by to stop and look at her unparalleled sorrow, inflicted by Jehovah’s fierce anger. This is not a plea for pity detached from theology; it is a summons to recognize the moral weight of her suffering. The verse makes the calamity a public lesson: God’s judgment is real, and sin’s wages are bitter. By asking passersby to behold, Jerusalem asks the world to learn from her fall. Her grief is unique in measure and divine in cause—a disciplined people under holy wrath. Witnessing it should stir sober reflection in all who see.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is brought upon me, Wherewith Jehovah hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is brought upon me, Wherewith Jehovah hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Come to me, all you who go by! Keep your eyes on me, and see if there is any pain like the pain of my wound, which the Lord has sent on me in the day of his burning wrath.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862<FI> Is it<Fi> nothing to you, all ye passing by the way? Look attentively, and see, If there is any pain like my pain, That He is rolling to me? Whom Jehovah hath afflicted In the day of the fierceness of His anger.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Lamed. O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow: for he hath made a vintage of me, as the Lord spoke in the day of his fierce anger.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, whom Jehovah hath afflicted in the day of his fierce anger.
Context
Following appeals for God to see (verses 9, 11), the lament now calls humans to see (verse 12). This public summons frames the personal description that follows in verses 13–15, where metaphors convey the inwardness of divine judgment—fire in the bones, a net for the feet, the winepress of wrath. The flow moves from external witnesses to internal experience. Recognizing the Lord as the source of affliction prepares the reader to accept both the justice confessed in verse 18 and the hope that God will also judge the gloating enemies (verse 21).
v.11All her people sigh, they seek bread; They have given their pleasant things for food to refresh the soul: See, O Jehovah, and behold; for I am become abject.
v.12This passage
v.13From on high 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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Daniel 9:12
And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil; for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
- Luke 23:28
But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
- Jeremiah 18:16
to make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and shake his head.
- Jeremiah 30:24
The fierce anger of Jehovah shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall understand it.
- Lamentations 2:13
What shall I testify unto thee? what shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? For thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?
- Luke 21:22
For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
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