Lamentations 4

Lamentations 4

1How 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 .

2The precious sons of Zion ,

comparable to fine gold ,

how they are esteemed as earthen pitchers ,

the work of the hands of the potter !

3Even 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 .

4The 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 .

5Those who ate delicacies are desolate in the streets .

Those who were brought up in purple embrace dunghills.

6For 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 .

7Her nobles were purer than snow .

They were whiter than milk .

They were more ruddy in body than rubies .

Their polishing was like sapphire .

8Their 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 .

9Those 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 .

10The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children .

They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people .

11The LORD has accomplished his wrath .

He has poured out his fierce anger .

He has kindled a fire in Zion ,

which has devoured its foundations .

12The 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 .

13It 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 .

14They 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 amongst the nations ,

“They can ’t live here any more .”

16The 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 favour the elders .

17Our eyes still fail ,

looking in vain for our help .

In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save .

18They 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 .

19Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky .

They chased us on the mountains .

They set an ambush for us in the wilderness .

20The breath of our nostrils,

the anointed of the LORD ,

was taken in their pits ;

of whom we said,

under his shadow we will live amongst the nations .

21Rejoice 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 .

22The 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 .

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