How the gold has become tarnished , the pure gold has become dull ! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.
How the precious sons of Zion , once worth their weight in pure gold , are now esteemed as jars of clay , the work of a potter’s hands !
Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young , (but) the daughter of my people has become cruel , like an ostrich in the wilderness.
The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread , but no one gives them any.
Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets ; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.
The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than (that) of Sodom , which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help
Her dignitaries were brighter than snow , whiter than milk ; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies , their appearance like sapphires.
But now their appearance is blacker than soot ; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones ; it has become as dry as a stick.
Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger , who waste away , pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.
The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children , who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
The LORD - has exhausted His wrath ; He has poured out His fierce anger ; He has kindled a fire in Zion , and it has consumed her foundations.
The kings of the earth did not believe , nor any people of the world , that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
(But this was) for the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests , who shed the blood of the righteous in her midst.
They wandered blind in the streets , defiled by this blood , so that no one dared to touch their garments.
“ Go away ! Unclean ! ” men shouted “ Away , away ! Do not touch us ! ” So they fled and wandered. Among the nations it was said , “ They can stay here no longer. ”
The presence of the LORD has scattered them ; He regards them no more. The priests vvv vvv are shown no honor ; the elders find no favor.
All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation (that) could not save us.
They stalked our every step , so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near , our time ... ran out , for our end had come !
Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky ; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed in the wilderness.
The LORD’s anointed , the breath of our life , was captured in their pits. We had said of him , “ Under his shadow we will live among the nations. ”
So rejoice and be glad , O Daughter of Edom , (you) who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well ; you will get drunk and expose yourself.
O Daughter of Zion , your punishment is complete ; He will not prolong your exile. But He will punish your iniquity , O Daughter of Edom ; He will expose ... your sins.