1
How the gold has grown dim, how the fine gold has changed. The stones of the Sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
2
The precious sons of Tziyon, weighed against fine gold— how they are regarded as earthen jars, the work of a potter’s hands.
3
Even jackals draw out the breast and nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel like ostriches in the wilderness.
4
The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth from thirst. Little ones ask for bread, but no one breaks it for them.
5
Those who ate delicacies are desolate in the streets. Those who were raised in scarlet embrace ash heaps.
6
The crookedness of the daughter of my people was greater than the sin of Sedom, which was overturned in a moment, and no hands turned against her.
7
Her Nazirites were purer than snow, whiter than milk. Their bodies were more ruddy than coral, their form like sapphire.
8
Their appearance has become darker than soot. They are not recognized in the streets. Their skin clings to their bones; it has become dry like wood.
9
Better were those slain by the sword than those slain by famine, for these waste away, pierced through for lack of the produce of the field.
10
The hands of compassionate women boiled their own children. They became food for them in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11
Yahuah completed His wrath. He poured out His burning anger. He kindled a fire in Tziyon, and it consumed her foundations.
12
The kings of the earth and all inhabitants of the world did not believe that adversary or enemy would enter the gates of Yerushalayim.
13
It was because of the sins of her prophets and the crookedness of her kohenim, who shed in her midst the blood of the righteous.
14
They wandered blind through the streets, defiled with blood, so that none could touch their garments.
15
“Turn away! Unclean!” they cried to them. “Turn away! Turn away! Do not touch!” When they fled and wandered, they said among the nations, “They shall no longer sojourn here.”
16
The face of Yahuah scattered them. He will no longer regard them. They did not honor the face of the kohenim, nor show favor to the elders.
17
Our eyes still failed while watching for help that was nothing. From our watchtowers we watched for a nation that could not save.
18
They hunted our steps, so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near. Our days were fulfilled, for our end had come.
19
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens. They chased us upon the mountains. They lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
20
The breath of our nostrils, the Anointed of Yahuah, was captured in their pits— the one of whom we said, “Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.”
21
Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Utz. The cup shall also pass to you. You shall become drunk and expose yourself.
22
Your crookedness is completed, O daughter of Tziyon. He shall no longer carry you into exile. He shall visit your crookedness, O daughter of Edom. He shall uncover your sins.