Lamentations 4
1The gold has become tarnished; how the purest gold has changed! 1 The holy stones are scattered at the corner of every street. 1
2The precious sons of Zion were worth their weight in pure gold, 1 but now they are worth no more than clay jars, the work of the potter's hands! 1
3Even the jackals offer the breast to nurse their cubs, but 1 the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the desert. 1
4The tongue of the nursing baby sticks to the roof of his mouth by thirst; 1 the children ask for food, but there is none for them. 1
5Those who used to feast on the finest food now starve in the streets. 1 Those who were brought up wearing scarlet clothing now lie on piles of ashes. 1
6The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, 1 which was overthrown in a moment and no hands were wrung for her. 1
7Her leaders were purer than snow, whiter than milk; 1 their bodies were more ruddy than coral, their form was like sapphire. 1
8Their appearance now is darker than soot; 1 they are not recognized in the streets. 1 Their skin has shriveled on their bones; 1 it has become as dry as wood. 1
9Those who have been killed by the sword were happier than those killed by hunger, 1 who wasted away, pierced by the lack of any harvest from the field. 1
10The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; 1 they became their food during the time 1 when the daughter of my people was being destroyed. 1
11Yahweh showed all his wrath; he poured out his fierce anger. 1 He kindled a fire in Zion that consumed her foundations. 1
12The kings of the earth did not believe, 1 nor did any of the inhabitants of the world believe, 1 that enemies or opponents could enter the gates of Jerusalem. 1
13This happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests 1 who have shed the blood of the righteous in her midst. 1
14They wandered, blind, through the streets. 1 They were so defiled by that blood that no one was allowed to touch their clothes. 1
15“Away! Unclean!” people cried at them. “Away! Away! Do not touch!” 1 So they wandered about; people said among the nations, “They can stay here no longer.” 1
16Yahweh himself scattered them; he does not watch over them anymore. 1 They do not honor the priests, 1 and they did not show any favor to the elders. 1
17Our eyes failed, looking in vain for help; 1 from our watchtowers we watched 1 for a nation that could not rescue us. 1
18They followed our steps, 1 we could not walk in our streets. 1 Our end was near and our days were numbered, 1 our end had come. 1
19Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles in the sky. 1 They chased us to the mountains and lay in wait for us in the wilderness. 1
20The breath in our nostrils—Yahweh's anointed one—he was the one who was captured in their pits; 1 of whom it was said, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.” 1
21Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, 1 you who live in the land of Uz. 1 But to you also the cup will be passed; 1 you will be drunk and strip yourself naked. 1
22Daughter of Zion, your punishment will come to an end; 1 he will not extend your exile. 1 But daughter of Edom, he will punish; 1 he will uncover your sins.