Lamentations 1:20
What does Lamentations 1:20 mean?
A plain-English look at Lamentations 1:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Lamentations 1:20 means
The prayer turns urgent and intimate: “Behold, O Jehovah; for I am in distress.” The heart churns within, acknowledging “I have grievously rebelled.” Danger is everywhere—sword outside, death at home—while inward turmoil matches the outward siege. This is true repentance: not merely sorrow for suffering, but confession of sin, combined with a cry for God’s attention. The plea does not deny justice; it asks for mercy within it. By repeating “behold,” the city seeks the healing that begins when God looks upon the afflicted. The verse models how to bring both guilt and grief to the Lord, holding nothing back from his searching, compassionate gaze.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Behold, O Jehovah; for I am in distress; my heart is troubled; My heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: Abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Behold, O Lord; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Behold, O Jehovah; for I am in distress; my heart is troubled; My heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: Abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949See, O Lord, for I am in trouble; the inmost parts of my body are deeply moved; my heart is turned in me; for I have been uncontrolled: outside the children are put to the sword, and in the house there is death.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862See, O Jehovah, for distress <FI>is<Fi> to me, My bowels have been troubled, Turned hath been my heart in my midst, For I have greatly provoked, From without bereaved hath the sword, In the house <FI>it is<Fi> as death.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Res. Behold, O Lord, for I am in distress, my bowels are troubled: my heart is turned within me, for I am full of bitterness: abroad the sword destroyeth and at home there is death alike.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890See, Jehovah, for I am in distress, my bowels are troubled; my heart is turned within me, for I have grievously rebelled: without, the sword hath bereaved [me], within, it is as death.
Context
After failed helpers and dying leaders (verse 19), verse 20 presents a bare, honest plea for God to see the city’s distress and rebellion. This prepares for the recognition in verse 21 that enemies gloat over the calamity and that God is the one who did it—yet he has also announced a coming day that will make them like Jerusalem. The flow moves from personal anguish to a hope in divine justice beyond the present. This leads naturally into the closing imprecation of verse 22, asking God to repay the enemies’ wickedness commensurately.
v.19I called for my lovers, butthey deceived me: My priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, While they sought them food to refresh their souls.
v.20This passage
v.21They have heard that I sigh; there is none to comfort me; All mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: Thou wilt bring the day that thou hast proclaimed, and they shall be like unto me.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Habakkuk 3:16
I heard, and my body trembled, My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entereth into my bones, and I tremble in my place; Because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, For the coming up of the people that invadeth us.
- Luke 15:18
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight:
- Ezekiel 7:15
The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.
- Hosea 11:8
How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I cast thee off, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboiim? my heart is turned within me, my compassions are kindled together.
- Jeremiah 31:20
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a darling child? for as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearneth for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith Jehovah.
- Jeremiah 14:18
If I go forth into the field, then, behold, the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then, behold, they that are sick with famine! for both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge.
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