The description of the cessation of the joy in the city can be linked with the reference to music-making in the previous verse. The ending of the music of the young men is already a cessation of joy (Lamentations 5:14). Now it is particularly described as an inward change from joy to grief and bewilderment.1 While there is a link between this verse and the previous, the reason for the cessation of the music of the young men is not the same as the cessation of joy here. The music in the previous verse refers to music made on various occasions while joy
in this verse is probably referring to worship. This is clear from the rest of the verse where dancing
refers to liturgical imagery as well. The same word for joy is also used in Hosea 2:13, although it refers there to pagan rituals. The joy over appropriate worship has ceased.2 This does not mean that it is restricted to the joy of worship, as that joy should permeate all aspects of life. The joy of life is gone.
15 La joie a disparu de nos cœurs, Le deuil a remplacé nos danses.