“1 How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most fine gold changed!
the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. 2
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they
esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! 3
Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young
ones: the daughter of my people [is become] cruel, like the ostriches in
the wilderness. 4 The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof
of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, [and] no man
breaketh [it] unto them. 5 They that did feed delicately are desolate in
the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. 6
For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is
greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as
in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. 7 Her Nazarites were purer than
snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than
rubies, their polishing [was] of sapphire: 8 Their visage is blacker
than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to
their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick. 9 [They that be]
slain with the sword are better than [they that be] slain with hunger:
for these pine away, stricken through for [want of] the fruits of the
field. 10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children:
they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people. 11
The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce
anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the
foundations thereof. 12 The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants
of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy
should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.”
“13 For the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests,
that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her, 14 They have
wandered [as] blind [men] in the streets, they have polluted themselves
with blood, so that men could not touch their garments. 15 They cried
unto them, Depart ye; [it is] unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when
they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no
more sojourn [there]. 16 The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he
will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests,
they favoured not the elders. 17 As for us, our eyes as yet failed for
our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation [that] could
not save [us]. 18 They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets:
our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come. 19 Our
persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us
upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness. 20 The
breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their
pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the
heathen.”
“21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land
of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken,
and shalt make thyself naked. 22 The punishment of thine iniquity is
accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into
captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will
discover thy sins.” (Lamentations 4:1-22 AV)