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LamentationsChapter 4

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How the gold has lost its luster, the finest gold grown dull! The sacred stones lie scattered at the head of every street.
Zion's precious sons, once weighed against pure gold — how they are now reckoned as clay pots, the work of a potter's hands.
Even jackals offer the breast and nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has turned cruel, like ostriches in the wilderness.
The nursing infant's tongue sticks to the roof of his mouth for thirst; children beg for bread, but no one breaks off a piece for them.
Those who once ate delicacies lie desolate in the streets; those raised in crimson now cling to heaps of refuse.
The guilt of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, with no hand laid upon her.
Her nobles were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were ruddier than coral, their form like sapphire.
Now their appearance is darker than soot; no one recognizes them in the streets. Their skin is shriveled on their bones, dried up like wood.
Better off were those slain by the sword than those slain by hunger, who wasted away, pierced by the lack of the fruit of the field.
The hands of compassionate women cooked their own children; they became their food when the daughter of my people was shattered.
The LORD has spent his wrath, he has poured out his burning anger; he kindled a fire in Zion that consumed her foundations.
The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any who dwell in the world, that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
It was for the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous.
They wandered blind through the streets, defiled with blood, so that no one could touch their garments.
"Away! Unclean!" people shouted at them. "Away, away, do not touch!" So they fled and wandered; among the nations it was said, "They shall stay here no longer."
The LORD himself has scattered them; he no longer looks on them. No one honored the priests or showed favor to the elders.
Still our eyes wasted away, looking in vain for help; we kept watch and watched for a nation that could not save.
They stalked our every step, so we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near, our days were finished; our end had come.
Our pursuers were swifter than eagles in the sky; they chased us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.
The breath of our life, the LORD's anointed, was caught in their pits — he of whom we said, "In his shadow we shall live among the nations."
Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz; yet the cup will pass to you as well — you will drink and be stripped bare.
Your punishment is complete, daughter of Zion; he will exile you no more. But your guilt, daughter of Edom, he will punish; he will lay bare your sins.
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