ACV - Lamentations - 4

4:1  How the gold has become dim, the most pure gold 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 they are esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

4:3  Even the jackals draw out the breast; they give suck to their young ones. The daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

4:4  The tongue of the sucking child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst. The young sons ask bread, and no man breaks it to them.

4:5  Those who fed luxuriously 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 upon her.

4:7  Her ranking men 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 visage 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 slain with the sword are better than those who are slain 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  Jehovah has accomplished his wrath. He has poured out his fierce anger, and he has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured the foundations thereof.

4:12  The kings of the earth did not believe, nor 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, who 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 cannot touch their garments.

4:15  Depart ye, they cried to them. Unclean! Depart, depart, do not touch! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall no more sojourn here.

4:16  The anger of Jehovah has scattered them. He will no more regard them. They did not respect the persons of the priests. They did not favor the elders.

4:17  Our eyes do yet fail in looking for our vain help. In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.

4:18  They hunt our steps, so that we cannot 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 heavens. They chased us upon the mountains. They laid wait for us in the wilderness.

4:20  The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jehovah, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.

4:21  Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, who dwells in the land of Uz. Yet the cup shall pass through to thee also. Thou shall be drunken, and shall make thyself naked.

4:22  The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion. He will no more carry thee away into captivity. He will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom. He will uncover thy sins.