Lamentations 4

The Punishment of Zion

4How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The sacred stones lie scattered at the head of every street.H2091H6004H2896H3800H8132H68H6944H8210H7218H23512The precious children of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold—how they are reckoned as earthen pots, the work of a potter's hands!H3368H1121H6726H5537H6337H2803H2789H5035H4639H3027H33353Even the jackals offer the breast and nurse their young, but my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.H8577H2502H7699H3243H1482H1323H5971H393H3283H40574The tongue of the infant sticks to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food, but no one gives them anything.H3956H3243H1692H2441H6772H5768H7592H3899H65665Those who feasted on delicacies perish in the streets; those who were brought up in purple cling to ash heaps.H398H4574H8074H2351H539H8438H2263H8306For the chastisement of my people has been greater than the punishment of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, though no hand was laid on it.H5771H1323H5971H1431H2403H5467H2015H7281H3027H23427Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, their hair like sapphire.H5139H2141H7950H6705H2461H119H6106H6443H1508H56018Now their visage 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.H8389H2821H7815H5234H2351H5785H6821H6106H3001H60869Happier were those pierced by the sword than those pierced by hunger, whose life drains away, deprived of the produce of the field.H2491H2719H2896H2491H7458H1992H2100H1856H8570H770410The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their food in the destruction of my people.H3027H7362H802H1310H3206H1262H7667H1323H597111The LORD gave full vent to his wrath; he poured out his hot anger, and kindled a fire in Zion that consumed its foundations.H3068H3615H2534H8210H2740H639H3341H784H6726H398H324712The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem.H4428H776H3427H8398H539H6862H341H935H8179H338913It was for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in the midst of her.H2403H5030H5771H3548H8210H1818H6662H713014Blindly they wandered through the streets, so defiled with blood that no one was able to touch their garments.H5128H5787H2351H1351H1818H3201H3808H5060H383015"Away! Unclean!" people shouted at them; "Away! Away! Do not touch!" So they became fugitives and wanderers; it was said among the nations, "They shall stay here no longer."H7121H5493H2931H5493H5493H5060H5132H5128H559H1471H3254H148116The LORD himself has scattered them, he will regard them no more; no honor was shown to the priests, no favor to the elders.H6440H3068H2505H3254H5027H5375H6440H3548H2603H220517Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; we were watching eagerly for a nation that could not save.H5869H3615H1892H5833H6836H6822H1471H346718They 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.H6679H6806H3212H7339H7093H7126H3117H4390H7093H93519Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles in the heavens; they chased us on the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.H7291H7031H5404H8064H1814H2022H693H405720The LORD's anointed, the breath of our life, was taken in their pits—the one of whom we said, "Under his shadow we shall live among the nations."H7307H639H4899H3068H3920H7825H559H6738H2421H147121Rejoice and be glad, O daughter Edom, you that live in the land of Uz; but to you also the cup shall pass; you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare.H7797H8055H1323H123H3427H776H5780H3563H5674H7937H616822The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter Zion, is accomplished, he will keep you in exile no longer; but your iniquity, O daughter Edom, he will punish, he will uncover your sins.H5771H8552H1323H6726H3254H1540H6485H5771H1323H123H1540H2403