Lamentations 1:12
New International Version
“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see. Is any suffering like my suffering that was inflicted on me, that the LORD brought on me in the day of his fierce anger?

New Living Translation
“Does it mean nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see if there is any suffering like mine, which the LORD brought on me when he erupted in fierce anger.

English Standard Version
“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which was brought upon me, which the LORD inflicted on the day of his fierce anger.

Berean Standard Bible
Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see! Is there any sorrow like mine, which was inflicted on me, which the LORD made me suffer on the day of His fierce anger?

King James Bible
Is 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.

New King James Version
Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold and see If there is any sorrow like my sorrow, Which has been brought on me, Which the LORD has inflicted In the day of His fierce anger.

New American Standard Bible
Is it nothing to all you who pass this way? Look and see if there is any pain like my pain Which was inflicted on me, With which the LORD tormented me on the day of His fierce anger.

NASB 1995
“Is it nothing to all you who pass this way? Look and see if there is any pain like my pain Which was severely dealt out to me, Which the LORD inflicted on the day of His fierce anger.

NASB 1977
“Is it nothing to all you who pass this way? Look and see if there is any pain like my pain Which was severely dealt out to me, Which the LORD inflicted on the day of His fierce anger.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Is it nothing to all you who pass this way? Look and see if there is any pain like my pain Which was dealt severely to me, Which Yahweh grieved me with on the day of His burning anger.

Amplified Bible
“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass this way? Look and see if there is any pain like my pain Which was severely dealt out to me, Which the LORD has inflicted [on me] on the day of His fierce anger.

Christian Standard Bible
Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see! Is there any pain like mine, which was dealt out to me, which the LORD made me suffer on the day of his burning anger?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see! Is there any pain like mine, which was dealt out to me, which the LORD made me suffer on the day of His burning anger?

American Standard Version
Is 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.

Contemporary English Version
No passerby even cares. Why doesn't someone notice my terrible sufferings? You were fiercely angry, LORD, and you punished me worst of all.

English Revised Version
Is 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Doesn't this affect all of you who pass by? Look and see if there's any pain like the pain that the LORD has caused me, like the pain that he has made me suffer on the day of his fierce anger.

Good News Translation
"Look at me!" she cries to everyone who passes by. "No one has ever had pain like mine, Pain that the LORD brought on me in the time of his anger.

International Standard Version
May it not befall you, all who pass along the road! Look and see: Is there any grief like my grief dealt out to me, by which the LORD afflicted me in the time of his fierce wrath?

Majority Standard Bible
Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see! Is there any sorrow like mine, which was inflicted on me, which the LORD made me suffer on the day of His fierce anger?

NET Bible
Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by on the road? Look and see! Is there any pain like mine? The Lord has afflicted me, he has inflicted it on me when he burned with anger.

New Heart English Bible
Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look, and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which is brought on me, with which the LORD has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

Webster's Bible Translation
Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which hath fallen upon me, with which the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

World English Bible
“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look, and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which is brought on me, with which Yahweh has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
[Is it] nothing to you, all you passing by the way? Look attentively, and see, "" If there is any pain like my pain, "" That He is rolling to me? Whom YHWH has afflicted "" In the day of the fierceness of His anger.

Young's Literal Translation
Is it 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.

Smith's Literal Translation
Nothing to you, all ye passing by the way? Behold, and see if there is pain as my pain, which was done to me with which Jehovah afflicted in the day of the burning of his anger.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Lamed. 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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
LAMED. O all you who pass by the way, attend, and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow. For he has made me a vintage, just as the Lord has spoken in the day of his furious anger.

New American Bible
Come, all who pass by the way, pay attention and see: Is there any pain like my pain, which has been ruthlessly inflicted upon me, With which the LORD has tormented me on the day of his blazing wrath?

New Revised Standard Version
Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which was brought upon me, which the LORD inflicted on the day of his fierce anger.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Is it nothing to you, all you that pass by? Understand, and see if there is any pain like my pain, which the LORD has dealt to me; for the LORD has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Lamed Is it nothing to all you passersby on the street? Be wise and see if there is pain as my pain that LORD JEHOVAH made for me, and LORD JEHOVAH humiliated me in the day of the heat of his wrath
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Let it not come unto you, all ye that pass by! Behold, and see If there be any pain like unto my pain, Which is done unto me, Wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me In the day of His fierce anger.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
LAMED. All ye that pass by the way, turn, and see if there is sorrow like to my sorrow, which has happened to me. The Lord who spoke by me has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
How Lonely Lies the City
11All her people groan as they search for bread. They have traded their treasures for food to keep themselves alive. Look, O LORD, and consider, for I have become despised. 12Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see! Is there any sorrow like mine, which was inflicted on me, which the LORD made me suffer on the day of His fierce anger? 13He sent fire from on high, and it overpowered my bones. He spread a net for my feet and turned me back. He made me desolate, faint all the day long.…

Cross References
Isaiah 53:3-5
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. / Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. / But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Psalm 22:1-2
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning? / I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest.

Jeremiah 30:7
How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it.

Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Isaiah 63:9
In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Zechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

Luke 19:41-44
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it / and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. / For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. ...

Job 6:2-4
“If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales. / For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—no wonder my words have been rash. / For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

2 Corinthians 1:5
For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

Psalm 69:20
Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one.

Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.

Jeremiah 4:19
My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the pain in my chest! My heart pounds within me; I cannot be silent. For I have heard the sound of the horn, the alarm of battle.

John 19:30
When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.

Ezekiel 24:16-18
“Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow. / Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.” / So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I had been commanded.

Revelation 1:7
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.


Treasury of Scripture

Is it nothing to you, all you that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow, which is done to me, with which the LORD has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

is it nothing.

Lamentations 2:13
What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

Lamentations 4:6-11
For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her…

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.

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Lamentations 1
1. The miseries of Jerusalem and of the Jews lamented
12. The attention of beholders demanded to this unprecedented case
18. The justice of God acknowledged, and his mercy supplicated.














Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by?
This phrase captures the lament of Jerusalem personified, calling out to those who witness her desolation. The city, once vibrant and full of life, now lies in ruins, and the passersby are indifferent to her suffering. This reflects the broader theme of Lamentations, where the prophet Jeremiah mourns the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The rhetorical question emphasizes the depth of the city's despair and the callousness of those who witness it. This can be seen as a type of Christ, who also suffered while many looked on with indifference, as seen in the Gospels during His crucifixion.

Look around and see!
This imperative invites observers to truly perceive the devastation and not just glance superficially. It underscores the need for awareness and empathy. In a broader biblical context, this call to "see" is often used by prophets to urge people to recognize God's actions and the consequences of sin. It echoes the call for spiritual insight and understanding, as seen in Isaiah 42:20, where seeing but not perceiving is a sign of spiritual blindness.

Is there any sorrow like mine,
The comparison of sorrow highlights the unparalleled nature of Jerusalem's suffering. Historically, the fall of Jerusalem was a catastrophic event for the Jewish people, leading to exile and the destruction of the Temple, which was central to their worship and identity. This phrase can also be seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate sorrow borne by Christ, who took upon Himself the sins of the world, as described in Isaiah 53:3, where He is called "a man of sorrows."

which was inflicted on me,
This acknowledges that the suffering is not self-inflicted but comes from an external source. In the context of Lamentations, this refers to the Babylonian siege and destruction. However, it also points to the divine judgment that God allowed to happen due to the people's persistent sin and rebellion. This reflects the biblical principle that God disciplines those He loves, as seen in Hebrews 12:6.

which the LORD made me suffer
Here, the text attributes the suffering directly to the LORD, recognizing His sovereignty even in judgment. This aligns with the biblical understanding that God is in control of all events, and His actions are just, even when they involve punishment. Theologically, this can be connected to the concept of divine retribution and the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where blessings and curses were contingent upon obedience, as outlined in Deuteronomy 28.

on the day of His fierce anger?
The "day of His fierce anger" refers to the time of God's judgment, a theme prevalent in prophetic literature. This phrase underscores the seriousness of God's wrath against sin and the consequences of breaking the covenant. It also serves as a warning of the ultimate Day of the Lord, a future time of judgment and restoration prophesied in books like Joel and Zephaniah. In the New Testament, this concept is expanded to include the final judgment at Christ's return, as seen in Revelation 19:15, where the wrath of God is executed.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
Traditionally considered the author of Lamentations, Jeremiah is known as the "weeping prophet." He laments the destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of its people.

2. Jerusalem
The city that has been destroyed by the Babylonians, serving as the backdrop for the lament. It symbolizes the spiritual and physical desolation experienced by the Israelites.

3. The Passersby
These are the people who witness the suffering of Jerusalem but remain indifferent. They represent those who are oblivious to the suffering of others.

4. The LORD's Anger
The divine judgment that has come upon Jerusalem due to the people's disobedience and sin. It reflects God's righteousness and justice.

5. The Day of the LORD's Fierce Anger
A time of divine retribution and judgment, emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the consequences of turning away from God.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Suffering
Suffering is a part of the human experience and can be a result of personal or communal sin. Recognizing this helps us understand the need for repentance and reliance on God's mercy.

God's Righteous Judgment
God's anger is not arbitrary but a response to sin. It serves as a reminder of His holiness and the seriousness of turning away from His commandments.

Empathy and Compassion
The indifference of the passersby challenges us to be compassionate and responsive to the suffering around us, reflecting Christ's love and empathy.

Hope in Desolation
Even in the midst of judgment and suffering, there is hope for restoration. God's ultimate plan is one of redemption and healing for those who turn back to Him.

Personal Reflection and Repentance
This passage invites us to examine our own lives, recognize areas of disobedience, and seek God's forgiveness and guidance.(12) Is it nothing to you . . .--Literally, Not to you, ye passers by, which the Authorised version takes as a question. The LXX. and Vulg., however, seem to have taken the adverb as an interjection: "O all ye that pass by . . ." And some interpreters have taken the negative but not the question, "Nor to you . . . (do I say this)." The Authorised version, however, has most to commend it. What the mourning city felt most keenly was that her unparalleled sufferings were met with an unparalleled indifference.

Verses 12-22. - The same subject; Jerusalem the speaker. Verse 12. - Is it nothing to you? The Hebrew is very difficult, and the translation therefore insecure. Keil, however, adopts a rendering very near that of the Authorized Version "(Cometh it) not unto you?" i.e. "Do ye not heed it?" Ewald supposes the phrase to be abbreviated from "Do I not call unto you?" (comp. Proverbs 8:4); but this would be a very harsh construction. The Septuagint has Οἱ πρὸς ὑμᾶς; the Targum, "I adjure you;" the Vulgate, O vos; - all apparently pronouncing lu instead of lo. At any rate, the object of the words is to heighten the force of the appeal which follows.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Is this nothing
ל֣וֹא (lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to you,
אֲלֵיכֶם֮ (’ă·lê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

you who pass by?
עֹ֣בְרֵי (‘ō·ḇə·rê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

Look around
הַבִּ֣יטוּ (hab·bî·ṭū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5027: To scan, look intently at, to regard

and see!
וּרְא֗וּ (ū·rə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

Is there
יֵ֤שׁ (yêš)
Adverb
Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is

any sorrow
מַכְאוֹב֙ (maḵ·’ō·wḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4341: Anguish, affliction

like mine,
כְּמַכְאֹבִ֔י (kə·maḵ·’ō·ḇî)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4341: Anguish, affliction

which
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

was inflicted
עוֹלַ֖ל (‘ō·w·lal)
Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5953: To effect thoroughly, to glean, to overdo, maltreat, be saucy to, pain, impose

on me,
לִ֑י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

which
אֲשֶׁר֙ (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

made me suffer
הוֹגָ֣ה (hō·w·ḡāh)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3013: To grieve

on the day
בְּי֖וֹם (bə·yō·wm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of His fierce
חֲר֥וֹן (ḥă·rō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2740: A burning of anger

anger?
אַפּֽוֹ׃ (’ap·pōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire


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OT Prophets: Lamentations 1:12 Is it nothing to you all you (Lam. La Lm)
Lamentations 1:11
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