| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 1 Preface (1:1-9) 1:9 after Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, carried off Jeconiah, and the princes, and the skilled workers, and the nobles, and the people of the land from Jerusalem, as captives, and brought them to Babylon.) (1:9) | Captivity of Jerusalem | 5 Encouragement for Israel (4:1-5:9) 4:14 Let Zion's neighbors come, to take note of the captivity of my sons and daughters, brought upon them by the Eternal God. (4:14) |
| 2 Confession of sins (1:10-2:10) 1:13 we have sinned against him, and the anger, the fury of the Lord, has still not turned away from us (1:13) | Sins and punishments | 4 In praise of wisdom (3:9-38) 3:10 Why, Israel, why are you in the country of your enemies, growing older and older in an alien land (3:10) |