Jubilee2000 - Lamentations - 4

4:1  [Aleph] How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are scattered through the crossings of every street.

4:2  [Beth] The sons of Zion, precious and esteemed more than pure gold, how are they taken for earthen vessels, the work of the hands of the potter!

4:3  [Gimel] Even the sea monsters draw out the breast; they give suck to their young ones; the daughter of my people [is] cruel like the ostriches in the wilderness.

4:4  [Daleth] The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of his mouth for thirst; the young children ask for bread, and there was no one to break it unto them.

4:5  [He] Those that did feed delicately are made desolate in the streets; those that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

4:6  [Vau] For the iniquity of the daughter of my people has increased more than the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and companies did not camp upon her.

4:7  [Zain] Her Nazarites were whiter than snow; they were more radiant than milk; their composure had more fire than the precious stones cut from sapphire:

4:8  [Cheth] Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets; their skin cleaves to their bones; it is withered; it is dry like a stick.

4:9  [Teth] [Those] slain with the sword are better than [those] slain with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through for [want of] the fruits of the earth.

4:10  [Jod] The hands of the compassionate women have cooked their own children; they were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

4:11  [Caph] The LORD has accomplished his fury; he has poured out his fierce anger and has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has devoured the foundations thereof.

4:12  [Lamed] The kings of the earth and all the inhabitants of the world never believed that the adversary and the enemy would enter in through the gates of Jerusalem.

4:13  [Mem] For 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  [Nun] They have wandered blindly in the streets; they were polluted in blood, so that no one could touch their garments.

4:15  [Samech] They cried unto them, Depart ye; [it is] unclean; depart, depart, touch not because they were contaminated; and [when they were] thrust through, they said among the Gentiles, They shall never dwell here again.

4:16  [Pe] The anger of the LORD has separated them; he will never look upon them again. They did not respect the countenance of the priests, nor did they have compassion on the elders.

4:17  [Ain] As for us, our eyes have failed in seeking our vain help; in our watching we have watched for people [that] cannot save [us].

4:18  [Tzaddi] They hunt our steps that we cannot walk in our streets; our end came near; our days were fulfilled; for our end is come.

4:19  [Koph] Our persecutors were swifter than the eagles of the heaven; they pursued us upon the mountains; they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

4:20  [Resh] The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we had said, Under his shadow we shall live among the Gentiles.

4:21  [Schin] Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup shall also pass even unto thee; thou shalt be drunken and shalt vomit.

4:22  [Tau] The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will never cause thee to be carried away again; he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will uncover thy sins.: