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.

⁷ Their princes were brighter than snow
    and whiter than milk,
their bodies more ruddy than rubies,
    their appearance like lapis lazuli.

⁸ But now they are blacker^(J) than soot;
    they are not recognized in the streets.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones;^(K)
    it has become as dry as a stick.

⁹ Those killed by the sword are better off
    than those who die of famine;^(L)
racked with hunger, they waste away
    for lack of food from the field.^(M)

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

¹¹ The Lord has given full vent to his wrath;^(O)
    he has poured out^(P) his fierce anger.^(Q)
He kindled a fire^(R) in Zion
    that consumed her foundations.^(S)

¹² The kings of the earth did not believe,
    nor did any of the peoples of the world,
that enemies and foes could enter
    the gates of Jerusalem.^(T)

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

¹⁴ Now they grope through the streets
    as if they were blind.^(W)
They are so defiled with blood^(X)
    that no one dares to touch their garments.

¹⁵ “Go away! You are unclean!” people cry to them.
    “Away! Away! Don’t touch us!”
When they flee and wander^(Y) about,
    people among the nations say,
    “They can stay here no longer.”^(Z)

¹⁶ The Lord himself has scattered them;
    he no longer watches over them.^(AA)
The priests are shown no honor,
    the elders^(AB) no favor.^(AC)