Lamentations 4

Distress of the Siege Described

1HowH351 1darkH6004 the goldH2091 has becomeH6004, How the pureH2896 goldH3800 has changedH8132! The sacredH6944 stonesH68 are pouredH8210 out At the 2cornerH7218 of everyH3605 streetH2351.2The preciousH3368 sonsH1121 of ZionH6726, WeighedH5537 against fineH6337 goldH6337, HowH351 they are regardedH2803 as 3earthenH2789 jarsH5035, The workH4639 of a potter’sH3335 handsH3027!3EvenH1571 4jackalsH8565 offerH2502 the breastH7699, They nurseH3243 their youngH1482; But the daughterH1323 of my peopleH5971 has become 5cruelH393 Like 6ostrichesH3283 in the wildernessH4057.4The 7tongueH3956 of the infantH3243 cleavesH1692 To the roofH2441 of its mouthH2441 because of 8thirstH6772; The littleH5768 onesH5768 9askH7592 for breadH3899, But noH369 oneH369 breaksH6536 it for them.5Those who ateH398 10delicaciesH4574 Are desolateH8074 in the streetsH2351; Those 11rearedH539 in purpleH8438 EmbraceH2263 ashH830 pitsH830.6For the 12iniquityH5771 of the daughterH1323 of my peopleH5971 Is greaterH1431 thanH4480 the 1314sinH2403 of SodomH5467, Which was 15overthrownH2015 as in a momentH7281, And noH3808 handsH3027 were 16turnedH2342 toward her.7Her 17consecratedH5139 onesH5139 were 18purerH2141 thanH4480 snowH7950, They were whiterH6705 thanH4480 milkH2461; They were moreH4480 ruddyH119 in 19bodyH6106 thanH4480 coralsH6443, Their polishingH1508 was like 2021lapisH5601 lazuliH5601.8Their appearanceH8389 is 22blackerH2821 thanH4480 sootH7815, They are not recognizedH5234 in the streetsH2351; Their 23skinH5785 is shriveledH6821 on their bonesH6106, It is witheredH3001, it has becomeH1961 like woodH6086.9BetterH2896 are those 2425slainH2491 with the swordH2719 ThanH4480 those 26slainH2491 with hungerH7458; For they 2728pineH2100 awayH2100, being strickenH1856 For lack of the fruitsH8570 of 29the fieldH7706.10The handsH3027 of compassionateH7362 womenH802 30BoiledH1310 their own childrenH3206; They becameH1961 31foodH1262 for them Because of the destructionH7667 of the daughterH1323 of my peopleH5971.11The LordH3068 has 32accomplishedH3615 His wrathH2534, He has pouredH8210 out His fierceH2740 angerH639; And He has 33kindledH3341 a fireH784 in ZionH6726 Which has consumedH398 its foundationsH3247.12The kingsH4428 of the earthH776 did not believeH539, NorH3808 did anyH3605 of 34the inhabitantsH3427 of the worldH8398, That the adversaryH6862 and the enemyH340 Could 35enterH935 the gatesH8179 of JerusalemH3389.13BecauseH4480 of the sinsH2403 of her 36prophetsH5030 And the iniquitiesH5771 of her priestsH3548, Who have shedH8210 in her midstH7130 The 37bloodH1818 of the righteousH6662;14They wanderedH5128, 38blindH5787, in the streetsH2351; They were defiledH1351 with 39bloodH1818 So that noH3808 one couldH3201 touchH5060 their 40garmentsH3830.15“DepartH5493! 41UncleanH2931!” 42they criedH7121 of themselves. “DepartH5493, departH5493, do not touchH5060!” SoH3588 they 43fledH5327 and wanderedH5128; Men among the nationsH1471 saidH559, “They shall not continueH3254 to dwellH1481 with us.”16The presenceH6440 of the LordH3068 has scatteredH2505 them, He will not continueH3254 to regardH5027 them; They did not 4445honorH5375H6440 the priestsH3548, They did not favorH2603 the eldersH2205.17YetH5750 our eyesH5869 failedH3615, Looking for 46helpH5833 was 47uselessH1892; In our watchingH6836 we have watchedH6822 For a 48nationH1471 that could not saveH3467.18They 49huntedH6679 our stepsH6806 SoH4480 that we could not walkH1980 in our streetsH7339; Our 50endH7093 drewH7126 nearH7126, Our daysH3117 were 51finishedH4390 For our endH7093 had comeH935.19Our pursuersH7291 were 52swifterH7031 ThanH4480 the eaglesH5404 of the skyH8064; They chasedH1814 us on the mountainsH2022, They waitedH693 in ambushH693 for us in the wildernessH4057.20The 53breathH7307 of our nostrilsH639, the 54Lord’sH3068 anointedH4899, Was 55capturedH3920 in their pitsH7825, Of whomH834 we had saidH559, “Under his 56shadowH6738 We shall liveH2421 among the nationsH1471.”21RejoiceH7797 and be gladH8055, O daughterH1323 of 57EdomH112, Who dwellsH3427 in the landH776 of UzH5780; But the 58cupH3563 will comeH5674 aroundH5674 to you as wellH1571, You will becomeH7937 drunkH7937 and makeH6168 yourself nakedH6168.22The punishment of your iniquityH5771 has beenH8552 59completedH8552, O daughterH1323 of ZionH6726; He will exileH1540 you noH3808 longerH3254. But He 60will punishH6485 your iniquityH5771, O daughterH1323 of EdomH112; He will exposeH1540 your sinsH2403!