4
1 How
the gold has
become dim!
The most pure
gold has changed!
The stones of the
sanctuary are
poured out
at the head
of every street.
2 The
precious sons of
Zion,
comparable to
fine gold,
how they are
esteemed as
earthen pitchers,
the work of
the hands of
the potter!
3 Even
the jackals offer
their breast.
They nurse their
young ones.
But the daughter
of my people
has become cruel,
like the
ostriches in the
wilderness.
4 The
tongue of the
nursing child
clings to the
roof of his
mouth for thirst.
The young children
ask for bread,
and no one breaks
it for them.
5 Those who ate
delicacies are
desolate in the
streets.
Those who were brought
up in purple
embrace dunghills.
6 For
the iniquity of
the daughter of
my people is
greater than the
sin of Sodom,
which was
overthrown as in
a moment.
No hands were laid
on her.
7 Her nobles
were purer than
snow.
They were whiter
than milk.
They were more ruddy in
body than rubies.
Their polishing was like
sapphire.
8 Their
appearance is
blacker than a
coal.
They are not
known in the
streets.
Their skin clings
to their bones.
It is withered.
It has become
like wood.
9 Those
who are killed
with the sword
are better than
those who are
killed with hunger;
for these pine
away, stricken
through,
for lack of the
fruits of the
field.
10 The
hands of the
pitiful women have
boiled their own
children.
They were their
food in the
destruction of the
daughter of my
people.
11 The
LORD has
accomplished his
wrath.
He has poured
out his fierce
anger.
He has kindled
a fire in
Zion,
which has
devoured its foundations.
12 The
kings of the earth
didn’t believe,
neither did all
the inhabitants of
the world,
that the
adversary and the
enemy would enter into
the gates of
Jerusalem.
13 It
is because of
the sins of
her prophets
and the
iniquities of her
priests,
that have shed
the blood of
the just in
the middle of
her.
14 They
wander as blind
men in the
streets.
They are polluted
with blood,
So that men
can’t touch their
garments.
15 “Go
away!” they cried
to them.
“Unclean! Go away!
Go away! Don’t
touch!
When they fled
away and wandered,
men said among
the nations,
“They can’t
live here any
more.”
16 The
LORD’s anger has
scattered them.
He will not
pay attention to
them any more.
They didn’t respect
the persons of
the priests.
They didn’t favor
the elders.
17 Our
eyes still fail,
looking in vain
for our help.
In our watching
we have watched
for a nation
that could not
save.
18 They
hunt our steps,
so that we can’t
go in our
streets.
Our end is
near.
Our days are
fulfilled,
for our end
has come.
19 Our
pursuers were
swifter than the
eagles of the
sky.
They chased us
on the mountains.
They set an ambush
for us in
the wilderness.
20 The
breath of
our nostrils,
the anointed of
the LORD,
was taken in
their pits;
of whom we said,
under his shadow
we will live among
the nations.
21 Rejoice
and be glad,
daughter of Edom,
who dwells in
the land of Uz.
The cup will
pass through to
you also.
You will be
drunken,
and will make
yourself naked.
22 The
punishment of your
iniquity is
accomplished, daughter
of Zion.
He will no
more carry you
away into
captivity.
He will visit
your iniquity,
daughter of Edom.
He will uncover
your sins.