1How the gold has grown dim, the fine gold changed! The holy stones are poured out at the head of every street.
2The precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold — how they are reckoned as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!
3Even jackals bare the breast, they suckle their young; but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like ostriches in the wilderness.
4The nursing infant’s tongue cleaves to the roof of its mouth in thirst; the little children beg for bread, but no one breaks it for them.
5Those who once ate delicacies lie desolate in the streets; those brought up in crimson embrace ash heaps.
6The iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, though no hands were laid on it.
7Her consecrated ones were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than corals, their form like sapphire.
8Now their appearance is darker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has dried up like wood.
9Better off were those slain by the sword than those slain by famine, who wasted away, pierced through for lack of the produce of the field.
10The hands of compassionate women boiled their own children; they became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11Yahweh has spent his wrath; he has poured out his burning anger, and he kindled a fire in Zion that consumed its foundations.
12The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any who dwell in the world, that an adversary or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
13It was because of the sins of her prophets, the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous.
14They wandered blind through the streets, defiled with blood, so that none could touch their garments.
15“Away! Unclean!” they cried at them. “Away, away! Do not touch!” So they fled and wandered; among the nations they said, “They shall stay no longer.”
16The face of Yahweh has scattered them; he will no longer regard them. They showed no respect to the priests, no favor to the elders.
17Still our eyes failed, looking in vain for our help; in our watching we watched for a nation that could not save.
18They stalked our steps, so we could not walk in our squares. Our end drew near; our days were fulfilled, for our end had come.
19Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky; they chased us over the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
20The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Yahweh, was captured in their pits — he of whom we said, “Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.”
21Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz! To you also the cup shall pass; you shall become drunk and strip yourself naked.
22Your punishment is complete, daughter of Zion; he will no longer keep you in exile. But he will punish your iniquity, daughter of Edom; he will expose your sins.
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