Lamentations 4 (New International Version)

Lamentations 4

 ^1[a] How the gold has lost its luster,
       the fine gold become dull!
       The sacred gems are scattered
       at the head of every street.

 ² How the precious sons of Zion,
       once worth their weight in gold,
       are now considered as pots of clay,
       the work of a potter's hands!

 ³ Even jackals offer their breasts
       to nurse their young,
       but my people have become heartless
       like ostriches in the desert.

 ⁴ Because of thirst the infant's tongue
       sticks to the roof of its mouth;
       the children beg for bread,
       but no one gives it to them.

 ⁵ Those who once ate delicacies
       are destitute in the streets.
       Those nurtured in purple
       now lie on ash heaps.

 ⁶ The punishment of my people
       is greater than that of Sodom,
       which was overthrown in a moment
       without a hand turned to help her.

 ⁷ Their princes were brighter than snow
       and whiter than milk,
       their bodies more ruddy than rubies,
       their appearance like sapphires. ^[b]

 ⁸ But now they are 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 killed by the sword are better off
       than those who die of famine;
       racked with hunger, they waste away
       for lack of food from the field.

 ¹⁰ With their own hands compassionate women
       have cooked their own children,
       who became their food
       when my people were destroyed.

 ¹¹ The LORD has given full vent to his wrath;
       he has poured out his fierce anger.
       He kindled a fire in Zion
       that consumed her foundations.

 ¹² The kings of the earth did not believe,
       nor did any of the world's people,
       that enemies and foes could enter
       the gates of Jerusalem.

 ¹³ But it happened because of the sins of her prophets
       and the iniquities of her priests,
       who shed within her
       the blood of the righteous.

 ¹⁴ Now they grope through the streets
       like men who are blind.
       They are so defiled with blood
       that no one dares to touch their garments.

 ¹⁵ "Go away! You are unclean!" men cry to them.
       "Away! Away! Don't touch us!"
       When they flee and wander about,
       people among the nations say,
       "They can stay here no longer."

 ¹⁶ The LORD himself has scattered them;
       he no longer watches over them.
       The priests are shown no honor,
       the elders no favor.

 ¹⁷ Moreover, our eyes failed,
       looking in vain for help;
       from our towers we watched
       for a nation that could not save us.

 ¹⁸ Men stalked us at every step,
       so we could not walk in our streets.
       Our end was near, our days were numbered,
       for our end had come.

 ¹⁹ Our pursuers were swifter
       than eagles in the sky;
       they chased us over the mountains
       and lay in wait for us in the desert.

 ²⁰ The LORD's anointed, our very life breath,
       was caught in their traps.
       We thought that under his shadow
       we would live among the nations.

 ²¹ Rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom,
       you who live in the land of Uz.
       But to you also the cup will be passed;
       you will be drunk and stripped naked.

 ²² O Daughter of Zion, your punishment will end;
       he will not prolong your exile.
       But, O Daughter of Edom, he will punish your sin
       and expose your wickedness.