Lamentations 4:6-11

English Standard Version

^6 (A)For the chastisement^[a] of the daughter of my people has been greater
    than the punishment^[b] of Sodom,
^(B)which was overthrown in a moment,
    and no hands were wrung for her.^[c]

⁷ Her princes were purer than snow,
    whiter than milk;
their bodies were more ruddy than coral,
    the beauty of their form^[d] was like sapphire.^[e]

^8 (C)Now their face is blacker than soot;
    they are not recognized in the streets;
their skin has shriveled on their bones;
    it has become as dry as wood.

⁹ Happier were the victims of the sword
    than the victims of hunger,
who wasted away, pierced
    by lack of the fruits of the field.

^10 (D)The hands of ^(E)compassionate women
    ^(F)have boiled their own children;
^(G)they became their food
    during the destruction of the daughter of my people.

^11 (H)The Lord gave full vent to his wrath;
    he poured out his hot anger,
and ^(I)he kindled a fire in Zion
    that consumed its foundations.