[1] How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The holy
stones lie scattered at the head of every street. [2] The precious sons of
Zion, worth their weight in fine gold, how they are reckoned as earthen
pots, the work of a potter's hands! [3] Even the jackals give the breast
and suckle their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel,
like the ostriches in the wilderness. [4] The tongue of the nursling
cleaves to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food, but
no one gives to them. [5] Those who feasted on dainties perish in the
streets; those who were brought up in purple lie on ash heaps. [6] For the
chastisement of the daughter of my people has been greater than the
punishment of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, no hand being laid
on it. [7] Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies
were more ruddy than coral, the beauty of their form was like sapphire. [8]
Now their visage is blacker than soot, they are not recognized in the
streets; their skin has shriveled upon their bones, it has become as dry as
wood. [9] Happier were the victims of the sword than the victims of hunger,
who pined away, stricken by want of the fruits of the field. [10] The hands
of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their
food in the destruction of the daughter of my people. [11] The LORD gave
full vent to his wrath, he poured out his hot anger; and he kindled a fire
in Zion, which consumed its foundations. [12] The kings of the earth did
not believe, or any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy
could enter the gates of Jerusalem. [13] This was for the sins of her
prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed in the midst of her
the blood of the righteous. [14] They wandered, blind, through the streets,
so defiled with blood that none could touch their garments. [15] "Away!
Unclean!" men cried at them; "Away! Away! Touch not!" So they became
fugitives and wanderers; men said among the nations, "They shall stay with
us no longer." [16] The LORD himself has scattered them, he will regard
them no more; no honor was shown to the priests, no favor to the elders.
[17] Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; in our watching we
watched for a nation which could not save. [18] Men dogged our steps so
that we could not walk in our streets; our end drew near; our days were
numbered; for our end had come. [19] Our pursuers were swifter than the
vultures in the heavens; they chased us on the mountains, they lay in wait
for us in the wilderness. [20] The breath of our nostrils, the LORD's
anointed, was taken in their pits, he of whom we said, "Under his shadow we
shall live among the nations." [21] Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of
Edom, dweller in the land of Uz; but to you also the cup shall pass; you
shall become drunk and strip yourself bare. [22] The punishment of your
iniquity, O daughter of Zion, is accomplished, he will keep you in exile no
longer; but your iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he will punish, he will
uncover your sins.
