You keep track of my misery. ¹  Put my tears in your leather container! ²  Are they not recorded in your scroll? ³ 

They grope about in darkness ¹  without light; he makes them stagger ²  like drunkards.

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways – do not wander into her pathways;

Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause ¹  does not come to rest. ² 

The land of Judah will be inhabited by people who live in its towns as well as by farmers and shepherds with their flocks. ¹ 

They will disappoint you, ¹  those you have so faithfully dealt with since your youth. ²  Each strays off in his own direction, ³  leaving no one to rescue you.”

For the household gods ¹  have spoken wickedness, the soothsayers have seen a lie, and as for the dreamers, they have disclosed emptiness and give comfort in vain. Therefore the people set out like sheep and become scattered because they have no shepherd. ² 

What do you think? If someone ¹  owns a hundred ²  sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray? ³ 

It seems like you arrived just yesterday. Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go where I must go. But as for you, go back and take your men ¹  with you. May genuine loyal love ²  protect ³  you!”

The mighty lion ¹  perishes ²  for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness ³  are scattered.

For he has been thrown into a net by his feet ¹  and he wanders into a mesh. ² 

“If you encounter ¹  your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, you must by all means return ²  it to him.

I have wandered off like a lost sheep. ¹  Come looking for your servant, for I do not forget your commands.

They have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey that wanders off. Ephraim has hired prostitutes as lovers. ¹ 

Listen to the cattle groan! ¹  The herds of livestock wander around in confusion ²  because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering.

he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path ¹  will save that person’s ²  soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

So now, look, the Lord has preserved my life, just as he promised, these past forty-five years since the Lord spoke these words to Moses, during which Israel traveled through the wilderness. Now look, I am today eighty-five years old.

ז (Zayin) Jerusalem ¹  remembers, ²  when ³  she became a poor homeless person, ⁴  all her treasures that she owned in days of old. ⁵  When her people fell into an enemy’s grip, ⁶  none of her allies came to her rescue. ⁷  Her enemies ⁸  gloated over ⁹  her; they sneered at her downfall.

‘Cursed is the one who misleads a blind person on the road.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’

Before I was afflicted I used to stray off, ¹  but now I keep your instructions. ²