Lamentations 4

How the Gold Has Grown Dim

1How the gold has grown dim!
How the fine gold has changed!
The holy stones are poured out
at the head of every street. 2The precious children of Zion,
weighed against fine gold—
how they are now regarded
as clay jars,
the work of a potter’s hands! 3Even jackals bare the breast
and nurse their young,
but daughter my people has become cruel,
like ostriches in the wilderness. 4The tongue of the nursing child
clings to the roof of its mouth from thirst.
Little children ask for bread,
but no one breaks it for them.

Those Raised in Scarlet Embrace Refuse

5Those who ate delicacies
lie desolate in the streets.
Those raised in scarlet
embrace refuse heaps. 6The guilt of daughter my people
was greater than the sin of Sodom,
which was overthrown in a moment
without hands laid upon it. 7Her consecrated ones were purer than snow,
whiter than milk.
Their bodies were more ruddy than coral;
their form was like sapphire. 8Their appearance is darker than soot;
they are not recognized in the streets.
Their skin has shriveled upon their bones;
it has become dry like wood.

Better the Sword Than Hunger

9Better were those pierced by the sword
than those pierced by hunger,
who waste away, struck through
for lack of produce from the field. 10The hands of compassionate women
cooked their own children;
they became their food
in the breaking of daughter my people. 11The LORD spent his fury;
he poured out his fierce anger.
He kindled a fire in Zion
that consumed her foundations. 12The kings of the earth did not believe,
nor did any inhabitants of the world,
that adversary and enemy
could enter the gates of Jerusalem.

The Sins of Prophets and Priests

13It was because of the sins of her prophets,
the guilt of her priests,
who shed within her
the blood of the righteous. 14They wandered blind in the streets,
defiled with blood,
so that no one could touch
their garments. 15“Turn away! Unclean!”
people cried to them.
“Turn away! Turn away! Do not touch!”

So they fled and wandered.
Among the nations it was said,
“They shall no longer stay here.” 16The face of the LORD scattered them;
he will no longer look upon them.
No respect was shown to priests,
and no favor to elders.

We Waited for a Nation That Could Not Save

17Our eyes still failed
as we watched for help that was empty.
From our watchposts we watched
for a nation that could not save. 18They hunted our steps
so that we could not walk in our streets.
Our end drew near;
our days were fulfilled,
for our end had come. 19Our pursuers were swifter
than the eagles of the heavens.
They chased us upon the mountains
and lay in wait for us in the wilderness. 20The breath of our nostrils,
the anointed of the LORD,
was captured in their pits—
the one of whom we said,
“Under his shadow
we will live among the nations.”

Daughter Zion and Daughter Edom

21Rejoice and be glad, daughter Edom,
you who dwell in the land of Uz.
The cup will pass to you also;
you will become drunk
and expose yourself. 22Your guilt is completed, daughter Zion;
he will not continue to exile you.
He will attend to your guilt, daughter Edom;
he will uncover your sins.