Lamentations 4:1-6

New International Version

4 ^[a]How the gold has lost its luster,
    the fine gold become dull!
The sacred gems are scattered
    at every street corner.^(A)

² How the precious children of Zion,^(B)
    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.^(C)

⁴ Because of thirst^(D) the infant’s tongue
    sticks to the roof of its mouth;^(E)
the children beg for bread,
    but no one gives it to them.^(F)

⁵ Those who once ate delicacies
    are destitute in the streets.
Those brought up in royal purple^(G)
    now lie on ash heaps.^(H)

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