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The Punishment of Zion

How the gold has grown dim,
how the pure gold is changed!
The holy stones lie scattered
    at the head of every street.

The precious sons of Zion,
    worth their weight in fine gold,
how they are reckoned as earthen pots,
    the work of a potter’s hands!

Even the jackals give the breast
    and suckle their young,
but the daughter of my people has become cruel,
    like the ostriches in the wilderness.

The tongue of the nursling cleaves
    to the roof of its mouth for thirst;
the children beg for food,
    but no one gives to them.

Those who feasted on dainties
    perish in the streets;
those who were brought up in purple
    lie on ash heaps.

For the chastisement[a] of the daughter of my people has been greater
    than the punishment[b] of Sodom,
which was overthrown in a moment,
    no hand being laid on it.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 4:6 Or iniquity
  2. Lamentations 4:6 Or sin
  3. Lamentations 4:6 Heb uncertain

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