Lamentations 4
How the gold has become dim and tarnished!
Even gold that is pure tends to fade!
And the stones from your great sanctuary,
from the tops of the streets have been laid.
See how precious, these children of Zion;
worth their weight of the finest of gold.
Now, as clay pots have they been regarded,
and the works that a potter's hands hold.
Even jackals will nurse their own offspring,
by providing them milk for their tongue.
But the daughter of Zion is heartless,
like the ostrich deserting her young.
For the tongues of the children are cleaving
to the roofs of their mouths for their thirst;
they are asking for bread — no, they're begging!
But the bread to them is not dispersed.
Those who used to eat rich foods now perish,
or they beg on the streets to survive.
Those who grew up with garments of purple,
embrace dunghills to just stay alive.
For the guilt of my people is greater
than of Sodom when she met her end;
when disaster was brought in a moment
and no hand could give aid nor defend.
All her princes were purer than snowdrifts,
and much whiter than milk were their tone.
For their bodies were ruddy as rubies;
their appearance, like sapphire stone.
Now, their face is like coal — even blacker;
they're unknown in their own neighborhood.
And their skin clings to bones and is shriveled,
and their dry flesh is hardened like wood.
Those who die by the sword are far better
than those dying of hunger and waste;
for the starving are pierced with a longing
for the fruits of the field — just a taste.
By the hands of compassionate women,
their own children were boiled to eat;
they were food for them during destruction,
and the daughter of Judah's defeat.
But the LORD has exhausted his anger,
and has poured out his wrath from above;
he has kindled a fire in Zion,
which consumed its foundations thereof.
Not a king on the earth could believe it,
the whole world never heard of such fate;
that a foe or an enemy army
could just march through Jerusalem's gate.
But it happened for the sins of the prophets,
and it happened for the sins of the priests,
who defiled the city by shedding
blood of innocents rather than beasts.
Now they grope through the streets as if blinded,
and they wander in hopeless despair;
so defiled with blood that the people
do not dare touch the garments they wear.
Go away! You're unclean, said their people,
Get away! Do not touch us! Away!
So they fled to the alien nations,
but those people would not let them stay.
And the face of the LORD made them scatter,
and he showed them his favor no more.
People no more respected the priesthood,
nor the elders as they did before.
Yet our eyes failed as we searched so vainly,
but the help that we sought was unseen.
We continued to watch from our towers
for a nation that could intervene.
People stalked us and put us in danger,
and we walked our streets, fearful and numb.
In the end, we knew our days were numbered;
that the end of existence had come.
Our pursuers were swifter than eagles,
in the heavens that soared through the air;
for they hunted and chased us through mountains,
and laid wait in the wilderness there.
Then our king, the LORD's chosen, was captured,
and was caught in their trap and their snare;
we had said, We will live in protection
with the nations, because of his care.
Now, rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom!
And those living in Uz, you as well!
But you, too, will soon drink the LORD's anger,
and be drunken and naked yourself!
When your punishment ends, Daughter Zion,
he will bring your exile to a close.
Oh, but Edom, your pain's just beginning,
and your many sins will he expose.
Even gold that is pure tends to fade!
And the stones from your great sanctuary,
from the tops of the streets have been laid.
See how precious, these children of Zion;
worth their weight of the finest of gold.
Now, as clay pots have they been regarded,
and the works that a potter's hands hold.
Even jackals will nurse their own offspring,
by providing them milk for their tongue.
But the daughter of Zion is heartless,
like the ostrich deserting her young.
For the tongues of the children are cleaving
to the roofs of their mouths for their thirst;
they are asking for bread — no, they're begging!
But the bread to them is not dispersed.
Those who used to eat rich foods now perish,
or they beg on the streets to survive.
Those who grew up with garments of purple,
embrace dunghills to just stay alive.
For the guilt of my people is greater
than of Sodom when she met her end;
when disaster was brought in a moment
and no hand could give aid nor defend.
All her princes were purer than snowdrifts,
and much whiter than milk were their tone.
For their bodies were ruddy as rubies;
their appearance, like sapphire stone.
Now, their face is like coal — even blacker;
they're unknown in their own neighborhood.
And their skin clings to bones and is shriveled,
and their dry flesh is hardened like wood.
Those who die by the sword are far better
than those dying of hunger and waste;
for the starving are pierced with a longing
for the fruits of the field — just a taste.
By the hands of compassionate women,
their own children were boiled to eat;
they were food for them during destruction,
and the daughter of Judah's defeat.
But the LORD has exhausted his anger,
and has poured out his wrath from above;
he has kindled a fire in Zion,
which consumed its foundations thereof.
Not a king on the earth could believe it,
the whole world never heard of such fate;
that a foe or an enemy army
could just march through Jerusalem's gate.
But it happened for the sins of the prophets,
and it happened for the sins of the priests,
who defiled the city by shedding
blood of innocents rather than beasts.
Now they grope through the streets as if blinded,
and they wander in hopeless despair;
so defiled with blood that the people
do not dare touch the garments they wear.
Go away! You're unclean, said their people,
Get away! Do not touch us! Away!
So they fled to the alien nations,
but those people would not let them stay.
And the face of the LORD made them scatter,
and he showed them his favor no more.
People no more respected the priesthood,
nor the elders as they did before.
Yet our eyes failed as we searched so vainly,
but the help that we sought was unseen.
We continued to watch from our towers
for a nation that could intervene.
People stalked us and put us in danger,
and we walked our streets, fearful and numb.
In the end, we knew our days were numbered;
that the end of existence had come.
Our pursuers were swifter than eagles,
in the heavens that soared through the air;
for they hunted and chased us through mountains,
and laid wait in the wilderness there.
Then our king, the LORD's chosen, was captured,
and was caught in their trap and their snare;
we had said, We will live in protection
with the nations, because of his care.
Now, rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom!
And those living in Uz, you as well!
But you, too, will soon drink the LORD's anger,
and be drunken and naked yourself!
When your punishment ends, Daughter Zion,
he will bring your exile to a close.
Oh, but Edom, your pain's just beginning,
and your many sins will he expose.
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