Lamentations 1:21
What does Lamentations 1:21 mean?
A plain-English look at Lamentations 1:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Lamentations 1:21 means
News of the city’s sighing spreads, yet no one comes to comfort. Enemies rejoice that God has acted against her. Still, faith whispers: “Thou wilt bring the day that thou hast proclaimed, and they shall be like unto me.” The verse balances two truths: God’s hand is in the present judgment, and God has promised a future day of justice for gloating foes. The city does not deny her guilt; she asks that those who exult in her fall face the same measured judgment. Hope here is not triumphalism but confidence in God’s moral order—that he will not leave mockers unvisited forever.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000They 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611They 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 called, and they shall be like unto me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901They 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Give ear to the voice of my grief; I have no comforter; all my haters have news of my troubles, they are glad because you have done it: let the day of fate come when they will be like me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862They have heard that I have sighed, There is no comforter for me, All my enemies have heard of my calamity, They have rejoiced that Thou hast done <FI>it<Fi> , Thou hast brought in the day Thou hast called, And they are like to me.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Sin. They have heard that I sigh, and there is none to comfort me: all my enemies have heard of my evil, they have rejoiced that thou hast done it: thou hast brought a day of consolation, and they shall be like unto me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890They have heard that I sigh: I have no comforter: all mine enemies have heard of my calamity; they are glad that thou hast done it. Thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.
Context
After pleading for God to behold her distress (verse 20), the city observes her enemies’ delight and anchors hope in God’s proclaimed day of reckoning (verse 21). This anticipates the final prayer of verse 22, which asks for just recompense on the enemies’ wickedness, proportionate to the judgment Jerusalem has borne for her transgressions. The flow closes the circle: sin confessed, judgment owned, suffering described, witnesses summoned, and justice requested—not as self-justification, but as appeal to God’s righteous governance over all nations.
v.20Behold, 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.
v.21This passage
v.22Let all their wickedness come before thee; And do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: For my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Lamentations 1:22
Let all their wickedness come before thee; And do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: For my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.
- Joel 3:14
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! for the day of Jehovah is near in the valley of decision.
- Isaiah 13:1
The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
- Ezekiel 25:1
And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
- Psalms 38:16
For I said, Lest they rejoice over me: When my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
- Micah 7:9
I will bear the indignation of Jehovah, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
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