Jesus saw her weeping, and he saw how the people with her were weeping also; his heart was touched, and he was deeply moved.

Then Joseph left suddenly, because his heart was full of tender feelings for his brother. He was about to break down, so he went to his room and cried.

Didn't I weep with people in trouble and feel sorry for those in need?

But when they were sick, I dressed in mourning; I deprived myself of food; I prayed with my head bowed low,

But when I was in trouble, they were all glad and gathered around to make fun of me; strangers beat me and kept striking me.

My tears pour down like a river, because people do not obey your law.

We despised him and rejected him; he endured suffering and pain. No one would even look at him--- we ignored him as if he were nothing.

from all their suffering. It was not an angel, but the LORD himself who saved them. In his love and compassion he rescued them. He had always taken care of them in the past,

I wish my head were a well of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I could cry day and night for my people who have been killed.

If you will not listen, I will cry in secret because of your pride; I will cry bitterly, and my tears will flow because the LORD's people have been taken away as captives.

The LORD commanded me to tell the people about my sorrow and to say: "May my eyes flow with tears day and night, may I never stop weeping, for my people are deeply wounded and are badly hurt.

"That is why my eyes are overflowing with tears. No one can comfort me; no one can give me courage. The enemy has conquered me; my people have nothing left.

While the people were listening to this, Jesus continued and told them a parable. He was now almost at Jerusalem, and they supposed that the Kingdom of God was just about to appear.

He came closer to the city, and when he saw it, he wept over it,

when I say how great is my sorrow, how endless the pain in my heart

for my people, my own flesh and blood! For their sake I could wish that I myself were under God's curse and separated from Christ.

For it is clear that it is not the angels that he helps. Instead, he helps the descendants of Abraham.

This means that he had to become like his people in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in his service to God, so that the people's sins would be forgiven.

Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin.