Lam 4
1
How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most pure gold 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 are they esteemed as earthen
pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3
Even the jackals draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: The
daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4
The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of his mouth for thirst:
The young children ask bread, and no man breaks it to them.
5
They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: They that were brought
up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
6
For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom,
That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid upon her.
7
Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more
ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.
8
Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: Their
skin cleaves to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.
9
They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with
hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, for want 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
YHWH has accomplished his anger, he has poured out his fierce anger; And he
has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured the foundations thereof.
12
The kings of the earth believed not, neither 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 midst of her.
14
They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, So that
men cannot touch their garments.
15
Depart you, they cried to them, Unclean! depart, depart, touch not! When they
fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall no more sojourn
[here].
16
The anger of YHWH has scattered them; he will no more regard them: They respected
not the persons of the priests, they favored not the elders.
17
Our eyes do yet fail [in looking] for our vain help: In our watching we have watched
for a nation that could not save.
18
They hunt our steps, so that we cannot go in our streets: Our end is near, our days
are fulfilled; for our end is come.
19
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens: They chased us upon the
mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
20
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of YHWH, was taken in their pits; Of
whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.
21
Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwell in the land of Uz: The cup
shall pass through to you also; you shall be drunken, and shall make yourself
naked.
22
The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will
no more carry you away into captivity: He will visit your iniquity, O daughter
of Edom; he will uncover your sins.