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Lamentations
Chapter 4
The Distress of Zion
1
How
a
the gold
has become tarnished
,
the pure
gold
has become dull
!
The gems
of the temple
lie scattered
on every
street
corner
.
2
How
the precious
sons
of Zion
,
once worth their weight
in pure gold
,
are now esteemed
as jars
of clay
,
the work
of a potter’s
hands
!
3
Even
jackals
b
offer
their breasts
to nurse
their young
,
but the daughter
of my people
has become cruel
,
like
an ostrich
in the wilderness
.
4
The nursing infant’s
tongue
clings
in thirst
to
the roof of his mouth
.
Little children
beg for
bread
,
but no
one gives them any
.
5
Those who once ate
delicacies
are destitute
in the streets
;
those brought up
in
crimson
huddle
in ash heaps
.
6
The punishment
c
of the daughter
of my people
is greater
than that
of Sodom
,
which was overthrown
in
an instant
without
a hand
turned to help
her.
7
Her dignitaries
were brighter
than snow
,
whiter
than milk
;
their bodies
were more ruddy
than rubies
,
their appearance
d
like sapphires
.
e
8
But now their appearance
is blacker
than soot
;
they are not
recognized
in the streets
.
Their skin
has shriveled
on
their bones
;
it has become
as dry
as a stick
.
9
Those slain
by the sword
are
better off
than those who die
of hunger
,
who
waste away
,
pierced with pain
because the fields
lack produce
.
10
The hands
of compassionate
women
have cooked
their own children
,
who became
their food
in the destruction
of the daughter
of my people
.
11
The
LORD
has exhausted
His wrath
;
He has poured out
His fierce
anger
;
He has kindled
a fire
in Zion
,
and it has consumed
her foundations
.
12
The kings
of the earth
did not
believe
,
nor any
people
of the world
,
that
an enemy
or a foe
could enter
the gates
of Jerusalem
.
13
But this was for the sins
of her prophets
and the guilt
of her priests
,
who shed
the blood
of the righteous
in her midst
.
14
They wandered
blind
in the streets
,
defiled
by this blood
,
so that no
one dared
to touch
their garments
.
15
“
Go away
!
Unclean
!”
men shouted
at them.
“
Away
,
away
!
Do not
touch us
!”
So
they fled
and
wandered
.
Among the nations
it was said
,
“
They can stay
here no
longer
.”
16
The presence
of the
LORD
has scattered them
;
He regards them
no
more
.
The priests
are shown no honor
;
the elders
find no
favor
.
17
All the while
our eyes
were failing
as we looked in vain
for
help
.
We watched
from our towers
for
a nation
that could not
save us
.
18
They stalked
our every step
,
so that we could not walk
in our streets
.
Our end
drew near
,
our time
ran out
,
for our end
had come
!
19
Those who chased us
were
swifter
than the eagles
in the sky
;
they pursued us
over
the mountains
and ambushed
us
in the wilderness
.
20
The
LORD’s
anointed
,
the breath
of our life
,
was captured
in their pits
.
We had said
of him
,
“
Under his shadow
we will live
among the nations
.”
21
So rejoice
and be glad
,
O Daughter
of Edom
,
you who dwell
in the land
of Uz
.
Yet the cup
will pass
to
you as well
;
you will get drunk
and expose yourself
.
22
O Daughter
of Zion
,
your punishment
is complete
;
He will not
prolong
your exile
.
f
But He will punish
your iniquity
,
O Daughter
of Edom
;
He will expose
your sins
.
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