1How is the gold become so dim? the most fine gold is changed, and the stones of the Sanctuary are scattered in the corner of every street.
2The noble men of Zion comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, even the work of the hands of the potter!
3Even the dragons draw out the breasts, and give suck to their young: but the daughter of my people is become cruel like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, but no man breaketh it unto them.
5They that did feed delicately, perish in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet, embrace the dung.
6For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is become greater than the sin of Sodom, that was destroyed as in a moment, and none pitched camps against her.
7Her Nazirites were purer than the snow, and whiter than the milk: they were more ruddy in body, than the red precious stones: they were like polished sapphire.
8Now their visage is blacker than a coal: they cannot know them in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones: it is withered like a stock.
9They that be slain with the sword, are better than they that are killed with hunger: for they fade away as they were stricken through for the fruits of the field.
10The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children, which were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11The Lord hath accomplished his indignation: he hath poured out his fierce wrath, he hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured the foundations thereof.
12The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem:
13For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.
14They have wandered as blind menin the streets, and they were polluted with blood, so thatthey would not touch their garments.
15But they cried unto them, Depart ye polluted, depart, depart, touch not: therefore they fled away, and wandered: they have said among the heathen, They shall no more dwell there.
16The anger of the Lord hath scattered them, he will no more regard them: they reverenced not the face of the Priest, nor had compassion on the Elders.
17While we waited for our vain help, our eyes failed: for in our waiting we looked for a nation that could not save us.
18They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled, for our end is come.
19Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, and laid wait for us in the wilderness.
20The breath of our nostrils, the Anointed of the Lord was taken in their nets, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall be preserved alive among the heathen.
21Rejoice and be glad, O daughter Edom: that dwellest in the land of Uz, the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken and vomit.
22Thy punishment is accomplished, O daughter Zion: he will no more carry thee away into captivity, but he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter Edom, he will discover thy sins.