Lamentations grief and sorrow

After Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians, Jeremiah wrote this book of five laments or funeral songs.

Chapter 1 Jerusalem’s destruction

Chapter 2 God’s judgment

Chapter 3 Jeremiah’s response

Chapter 4 God’s anger

Chapter 5 Judah’s response

Chapters 1, 2, and 4 are acrostics. In other words, each chapter has 22 verses that begin with consecutive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Chapter 3 has 66 verses that repeat each letter three times. Chapter 5 is not an acrostic. Lamentations is a fitting sequel to Jeremiah’s book of prophecy. It serves as a reminder that sin results in pain and misery, while repentance brings hope and restoration.