1Ak, Jerusalems guldklumper har mistet deres herlighed. Hendes hellige øjestene ligger og vansmægter på hvert gadehjørne.2Byens befolkning var deres vægt værd i guld, men nu ligger de som værdiløse lerkar, en pottemagers værk.3De vilde sjakaler giver deres unger die, men mit folks mødre er følelseskolde som ørkenens strudse.4Ethvert spædbarn skriger af tørst med tungen klæbende til ganen. Småbørn tigger om mad, men ingen har noget at give.5Folk, som var vant til festmiddage, er nu ved at forgå af sult. De, som levede i luksus, roder nu efter føde i rendestenen.6Går det ikke mit folk værre end Sodomas indbyggere? De døde dog på et øjeblik ved Herrens direkte indgreb.7Hendes fyrster havde hud som silke og struttede af sundhed, deres ansigter var rødmossede og håret skinnede så smukt.8Ingen ville kunne genkende dem nu, hvis de mødte dem på gaden, for de er det rene skind og ben med ansigter sorte som sod.9Ja, hellere dræbes af sværdet, end at dø langsomt af sult, fordi madforsyninger ikke kan komme ind i byen.10Kan man forestille sig, hvad der sker med en kærlig mor, som tvinges til at koge og spise sine børn for at overleve?11Landet er lamslået over Herrens forfærdelige vrede. Jerusalem er ødelagt og brændt ned til grunden.12Man mente ikke, det kunne lade sig gøre at indtage Jerusalem. Ingen af jordens konger troede, det var muligt.13Nedsablingen skete, fordi profeter og præster havde syndet. De havde myrdet uskyldige folk midt i Herrens hellige by.14Overalt i byen raver folk rundt i blinde. De kan ikke undgå at røre ved blod, og derfor er de urene.15„Pas på!” advarer folk hinanden, „der kommer en uren!” Flygter de, siger de fremmede folkeslag: „Her kan I ikke bo!”16Respekt for præsterne og landets ledere hører fortiden til, for Herren har slået hånden af dem og spredt dem for alle vinde.17Skildvagterne stod og spejdede efter hjælp, men forgæves. Ingen af vores allierede havde magt til at redde os.18Tidspunktet nærmede sig, hvor alt var forbi. Vi kunne ikke gå ud på gaden af frygt for at blive dræbt.19Uden at vise nåde kastede fjenderne sig over os som gribbe. De forfulgte os i bjergene og lå på lur efter os i ørkenen.20Vores egen konge, Herrens udvalgte, gik lige i deres fælde, han, som vi troede kunne beskytte os fra enhver fjende.21Østpå glæder I jer, Edoms folk, for denne gang var det ikke jer, der blev ramt. Men en dag skal også I drikke Herrens vredes vin, så I mister besindelsen.22Åh, Jerusalem, din straf var hård, men en dag bliver du genoprettet. Edoms folk, derimod, vil blive straffet, fordi de svigtede os.
1How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The holy stones lie scattered at the head of every street. (Es 1,22; Jer 6,30; Klag 2,19)2The precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold, how they are regarded as earthen pots, the work of a potter’s hands! (Salm 19,10; Jer 19,11)3Even jackals offer the breast; they nurse their young; but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.4The tongue of the nursing infant sticks to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food, but no one gives to them. (Salm 22,15; Klag 2,11)5Those who once feasted on delicacies perish in the streets; those who were brought up in purple embrace ash heaps. (2.Sam 1,24)6For the chastisement[1] of the daughter of my people has been greater than the punishment[2] of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and no hands were wrung for her.[3] (1.Mos 19,25; Matt 10,15; Luk 10,12; 2.Pet 2,6; Judas 1,7)7Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, the beauty of their form[4] was like sapphire.[5]8Now 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. (Job 30,30; Salm 119,83; Klag 5,10)9Happier were the victims of the sword than the victims of hunger, who wasted away, pierced by lack of the fruits of the field.10The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their food during the destruction of the daughter of my people. (5.Mos 28,57; 1.Kong 3,26; 2.Kong 6,29; Es 49,15; Jer 19,9)11The Lord gave full vent to his wrath; he poured out his hot anger, and he kindled a fire in Zion that consumed its foundations. (Jer 17,27; Ez 5,13)12The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem. (Es 52,15; Es 53,1)13This was for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed in the midst of her the blood of the righteous. (Jer 5,31; Jer 23,21; Klag 2,20)14They wandered, blind, through the streets; they were so defiled with blood that no one was able to touch their garments. (4.Mos 19,16; Es 59,10)15“Away! Unclean!” people cried at them. “Away! Away! Do not touch!” So they became fugitives and wanderers; people said among the nations, “They shall stay with us no longer.” (3.Mos 13,45)16The Lord himself[6] has scattered them; he will regard them no more; no honor was shown to the priests, no favor to the elders. (Es 24,2; Klag 2,17; Klag 5,12)17Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; in our watching we watched for a nation which could not save. (Salm 119,82; Salm 119,123; Jer 3,23; Jer 37,7)18They dogged our steps so that we could not walk in our streets; our end drew near; our days were numbered, for our end had come. (Klag 3,52; Ez 7,2; Ez 7,6; Amos 8,2)19Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles in the heavens; they chased us on the mountains; they lay in wait for us in the wilderness. (2.Sam 1,23; Jer 4,13; Hab 1,8)20The breath of our nostrils, the Lord’s anointed, was captured in their pits, of whom we said, “Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.” (1.Mos 2,7; Dom 9,15; 2.Kong 25,5; Klag 2,9; Ez 12,13; Ez 17,20; Ez 19,4; Ez 19,8; Ez 31,6; Ez 31,17)21Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz; but to you also the cup shall pass; you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare. (Job 1,1; Jer 25,15; Jer 25,20; Klag 1,21)22The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter of Zion, is accomplished; he will keep you in exile no longer;[7] but your iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he will punish; he will uncover your sins. (Es 40,2; Ob 1,10)