How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #1
How like a widow she has become, she that was great among the nations! She that was a princess among the provinces has become a vassal. She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has no one to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they have become her enemies. (NRSV 1:1-2)
How is she become as a widow! She that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. (KJV 1:1-2)
The Poet often imagines the city of Jerusalem as an abandoned lover or widow and gives her all kinds of feminine roles. Here, she's a princess who's been stripped of her titles and glory. Now, she's just a servant girl or widow. Zion's also pretty emotional (some folks see weeping as a feminine trait). The mention of lovers and friends also seems to be more of a traditional woman's concern here.
Quote #2
From daughter Zion has departed all her majesty. (NRSV 1:6)
From the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed. (KJV 1:6)
Another female role: Jerusalem is like a once pretty daughter who lost her father and protector. In Biblical times, a father would avenge his ravaged daughter at all costs. But here, God's nowhere to be found at the moment.
Quote #3
All who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans, and turns her face away. Her uncleanness was in her skirts; she took no thought of her future; her downfall was appalling, with none to comfort her. "O Lord, look at my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!" (NRSV 1:8-9)
All that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward. Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O Lord, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself. (KJV 1:8-9)
In the original Hebrew, the word for "her uncleanness"—tumatah—means a state of spiritual and ritual impurity. A woman could be in this state for several reasons—she could be menstruating, or been sexually assaulted, or have come in contact with a dead body. Women in this condition were typically isolated from the community during the period of impurity, so the image is of a woman defiled and alone. Pretty sad.