| 4.1 |
How the gold has become dim! The most pure gold has changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street. |
| 4.2 |
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, How are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! |
| 4.3 |
Even the jackals draw out the breast, they nurse their young ones: The daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness. |
| 4.4 |
The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst: The young children ask bread, and no man breaks it to them. |
| 4.5 |
Those who fed delicately are desolate in the streets: Those who were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. |
| 4.6 |
For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid on her. |
| 4.7 |
Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire. |
| 4.8 |
Their appearance is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: Their skin clings to their bones; it is withered, it has become like a stick. |
| 4.9 |
Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field. |
| 4.10 |
The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children; They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people. |
| 4.11 |
Yahweh has accomplished his wrath, he has poured out his fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations. |
| 4.12 |
The kings of the earth didn’t believe, neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem. |
| 4.13 |
It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her. |
| 4.14 |
They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, So that men can’t touch their garments. |
| 4.15 |
Depart! they cried to them, Unclean! depart, depart, don’t touch! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall not live here any more. |
| 4.16 |
Yahweh’s anger has scattered them; he will no more regard them: They didn’t respect the persons of the priests, they didn’t favor the elders. |
| 4.17 |
Our eyes still fail, looking in vain for our help: In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save. |
| 4.18 |
They hunt our steps, so that we can’t go in our streets: Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end has come. |
| 4.19 |
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky: They chased us on the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness. |
| 4.20 |
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Yahweh, was taken in their pits; Of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations. |
| 4.21 |
Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, that dwell in the land of Uz: The cup shall pass through to you also; you shall be drunken, and shall make yourself naked. |
| 4.22 |
The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion; he will no more carry you away into captivity: He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom; he will uncover your sins. |
