Our elders don’t go to the city gate anymore. Our young men have stopped playing their music.

老年人在城门口断绝；少年人不再作乐。

城门口不再有老年人，年轻人也不再奏乐。

城门口不再有老年人，年轻人也不再奏乐。

老人不再坐在城门口，青年不再弹琴奏乐。

众长老不再坐在城门口；青年人不再唱歌作乐。

老年人在城門口斷絕；少年人不再作樂。

城門口不再有老年人，年輕人也不再奏樂。

城門口不再有老年人，年輕人也不再奏樂。

老人不再坐在城門口，青年不再彈琴奏樂。

眾長老不再坐在城門口；青年人不再唱歌作樂。

老年人停止了坐城門口，青年人止息了作樂。

耆老絕於邑門、少者止其音樂兮、

長老不坐門側、少壯不作音樂兮。

老者不復坐邑門、少者不復歌唱、

The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.

The old men have left the city gate, the young men their music.

The elders no longer sit in the city gates; the young men no longer dance and sing.

The elders have left the city gate, the young men, their music.

Elders are absent from the gate, Young men from their music.

The elders have ceased gathering at the gate, And the young men from their music.

The elders have ceased from the gate, The young men from their music.

The elders have left the city gate, the young men, their music.

The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick.

The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped playing their music.

The elders have ceased from the gate, and the young men from their music.

I will put an end to the sounds of joy and gladness. The voices of brides and grooms will not be heard anymore. There will be no sounds of joy in the towns of Judah. And there will be no joy in the streets of Jerusalem. The land will become a desert.

“ But now those who are younger than I am make fun of me. I wouldn’t even put their parents with my sheep dogs!

The elders of the city of Zion sit silently on the ground. They have sprinkled dust on their heads. They’ve put on the clothes of sadness. The young women of Jerusalem have bowed their heads toward the ground.

The roads to Zion are empty. No one travels to her appointed feasts. All the public places near her gates are deserted. Her priests groan. Her young women are sad. And Zion herself weeps bitterly.

The songs of musicians will never be heard in you again. Gone will be the music of harps, flutes and trumpets. No worker of any kind will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.

“ In those days I went to the city gate. I took my seat as a member of the council.Young people who saw me stepped to one side. Old people stood up as I approached.The leaders stopped speaking. They covered their mouths with their hands.The voices of the nobles became quiet. Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.Everyone who heard me said good things about me. Those who saw me honored me.That’s because I saved poor people who cried out for help. I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.Those who were dying gave me their blessing. I made the hearts of widows sing.I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes. Fairness was my robe and my turban.I was like eyes for those who were blind. I was like feet for those who couldn’t walk.I was like a father to needy people. I stood up for strangers in court.Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth. But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.

I will put an end to your noisy songs. No one will hear the music of your harps anymore.

He’ll take away heroes and soldiers. He’ll take away judges and prophets. He’ll take away fortune tellers and elders.He’ll take away captains of groups of 50 men. He’ll take away government leaders. He’ll take away advisers, skilled workers and those who are clever at doing evil magic.

The vines and fresh wine will dry up completely. Those who used to have a good time will groan.The happy sounds of tambourines will be gone. The noise of those who enjoy wild parties will stop. The joyful music of harps will become silent.People will no longer sing as they drink wine. Beer will taste bitter to those who drink it.Destroyed cities will lie empty. People will lock themselves inside their houses.In the streets people will cry out for wine. All joy will turn into sadness. All joyful sounds will be driven out of the earth.

I will put an end to the sounds of joy and gladness. I will put an end to the voices of brides and grooms. The sound of grinding millstones will not be heard anymore. And lamps will not be lit anymore.

I am the Lord who rules over all. I am the God of Israel. I am telling you,‘ In your days I will judge your people. You will see it with your own eyes. I will put an end to the sounds of joy and gladness here in Jerusalem. The voices of brides and grooms will not be heard anymore.’

My lyre is tuned to sadness. My flute makes a sound like weeping.

“ I called out to those who were going to help me. But they turned against me. My priests and elders died in the city. They were searching for food just to stay alive.

Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes. Do it in every town the Lord your God is giving you. They must judge the people fairly.