HOW the gold has become dim! How changed the fine gold! The stones of the sanctuary are scattered at the heads of every street.

2 The precious sons of Zion, valuable as fine gold, how they are regarded as clay pots, the work of the hand of potter!

3 Even the jackals present their breasts to nurse their young; but the daughter of my people is cruel, like ostritch in the wilderness.

4 The tongue of the infant cling to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the young children ask for bread, but no one breaks it for them.

5 Those who ate delicacies are desolate in the streets; those who were brought up in scarlet embrace ash heaps.

6 The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, with no hand to help her!

7 Her Nazirites were brighter than snow and whiter than milk; they were ruddy in body than rubies, like sapphire in their appearnce.

8 Now their apearnce is blacker than root; they go unrecognized in the strees; their skin clings to their bones, it has become as dry as wood.

9 Those slain by sword are better off than those who were die of hunger; for these pine away, stricken for lack of the fruit of the field.

10 The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children; they became food for them in the desrtuction of the daughter of my people.

11 The LORD has fullfilled His fury, He has poured out His fierce anger. He kindled a fire in Zion, and it has devoured its foundations.

12 The kings of the earth, and all inhabitants of the world, would not has believe that adversary and the enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem -

13 Because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priest, who shed in her midst the blood of the just.

14 They wandered blind in the streets; they have defiled themselve with blood, so that no one would touch their garments.

15 They cried out to them, "Go away, unclean! go away, do not touch us! "When they fled and wandered, those among nations said, "They shall no longer dwell here."

16 The face of the LORD scattered them; He no longer regards them. The people do not respect the priests nor show favor to the elders.

17 Still our eyes failed us, watching vainly for our help; in our watching we watched for a nation that could not save us.

18 They tracked our steps that we could not walk in out streets. Our end was near; our days were over, for us in the wilderness.

19 Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens. They persued us on the mountains and lay in wait for us in the wilderness.

20 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was caught in their pits, 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 Uz ! The cup shall also pass over to you and you shall become drunk and make yourself naked.

22 The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion;  He will no loner send you into captivity. He will punish your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; He will uncover your sins. LAMENTATION 4