Lamentations 4:3-10

3Even the jackals feed their babies at their breasts. But Jerusalem's young women have become cruel. They are like ostriches that leave their eggs in the desert.

4The mouths of the babies in Jerusalem are completely dry, because they are so thirsty. And the young children ask for food, but nobody gives them anything to eat.

5There are people here who had been very rich. They ate the best foods, but now they are hungry. Now they lie in the streets with nothing to eat. They wore the best clothes, but now they sit in the ashes.

6God has punished my people. He punished us more than he punished Sodom's people. God destroyed that city in a moment, and nobody was there to help them.

7In past times, the leaders of Jerusalem were more pure than very white snow. They were strong and healthy. Their bodies seemed to shine like valuable stones.

8Now their faces are dirty and black. People see them in the streets, but they do not recognize them. Their skin hangs on their bones. Their skin is as dry as wood for a fire.

9Our enemies have killed many people with long knives. It is better for those dead people than for the people who have no food. They are very hungry. And they die slowly because they have nothing to eat.

10Women who once were very kind have boiled their own children. Their children became their food, when the enemies were destroying the city.