Add parallel Print Page Options

Even jackals bare their breasts
    and nurse their young.
But the daughters of my people have become
    as cruel as ostriches[a] in the desert.
The tongue of an infant
    sticks to the roof of its mouth in thirst.
Little children beg for bread,
    but no one offers them a crumb.
Those who once feasted on delicacies
    now lie dying in the streets.
Those who once wore purple garments
    now grovel in rubbish heaps.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 4:3 Ostriches: it was thought that ostriches did not take care of their young.

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

Because of thirst(B) the infant’s tongue
    sticks to the roof of its mouth;(C)
the children beg for bread,
    but no one gives it to them.(D)

Those who once ate delicacies
    are destitute in the streets.
Those brought up in royal purple(E)
    now lie on ash heaps.(F)

Read full chapter