1[1] How the gold has lost its lustre, the fine gold become dull! The sacred gems are scattered at every street corner.2How the precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, are now considered as pots of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!3Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my people have become heartless like ostriches in the desert.4Because of thirst the infant’s tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth; the children beg for bread, but no-one gives it to them.5Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets. Those brought up in royal purple now lie on ash heaps.6The punishment of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment without a hand turned to help her.7Their princes were brighter than snow and whiter than milk, their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like lapis lazuli.8But now they are blacker than soot; they are not recognised in the streets. Their skin has shrivelled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.9Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of famine; racked with hunger, they waste away for lack of food from the field.10With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyed.11The Lord has given full vent to his wrath; he has poured out his fierce anger. He kindled a fire in Zion that consumed her foundations.12The 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.13But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous.14Now they grope through the streets as if they were blind. They are so defiled with blood 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 about, people among the nations say, ‘They can stay here no longer.’16The Lord himself has scattered them; he no longer watches over them. The priests are shown no honour, the elders no favour.17Moreover, our eyes failed, looking in vain for help; from our towers we watched for a nation that could not save us.18People stalked us at every step, so we could not walk in our streets. Our end was near, our days were numbered, for our end had come.19Our pursuers were swifter than eagles in the sky; they chased us over the mountains and lay in wait for us in the desert.20The Lord’s anointed, our very life breath, was caught in their traps. We thought that under his shadow we would live among the nations.21Rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom, you who live in the land of Uz. But to you also the cup will be passed; you will be drunk and stripped naked.22Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion; he will not prolong your exile. But he will punish your sin, Daughter Edom, and expose your wickedness.
Lamentations 4
English Standard Version
The Holy Stones Lie Scattered
1How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The holy stones lie scattered at the head of every street. (Isa 1:22; Jer 6:30; La 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! (Ps 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. (Ps 22:15; La 2:11)5Those who once feasted on delicacies perish in the streets; those who were brought up in purple embrace ash heaps. (2Sa 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] (Ge 19:25; Mt 10:15; Lu 10:12; 2Pe 2:6; Jud 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; Ps 119:83; La 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. (De 28:57; 1Ki 3:26; 2Ki 6:29; Isa 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; Eze 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. (Isa 52:15; Isa 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; La 2:20)14They wandered, blind, through the streets; they were so defiled with blood that no one was able to touch their garments. (Nu 19:16; Isa 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.” (Le 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. (Isa 24:2; La 2:17; La 5:12)17Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; in our watching we watched for a nation which could not save. (Ps 119:82; Ps 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. (La 3:52; Eze 7:2; Eze 7:6; Am 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. (2Sa 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.” (Ge 2:7; Jud 9:15; 2Ki 25:5; La 2:9; Eze 12:13; Eze 17:20; Eze 19:4; Eze 19:8; Eze 31:6; Eze 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; La 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. (Isa 40:2; Ob 1:10)