Lamentations 4
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.
