Lamentations 4

1 How tarnished the gold has become, the finest gold debased! Sacred stones ^{a4:1 Or gems} have been scattered at every street corner.ISV — Lamentations 4:1

2 Though the precious people of Zion were like fine gold, how they are valued like clay vessels, the handiwork of a potter!ISV — Lamentations 4:2

3 Even wild animals nurse, suckling their young; but the women of my people are cruel, like ostriches in the wilderness.ISV — Lamentations 4:3

4 The nursing child’s tongue cleaves to its palate from thirst. Young children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.ISV — Lamentations 4:4

5 Those who enjoyed delicacies lie desolate in the streets. Those who were reared wearing purple scavenge in piles of trash.ISV — Lamentations 4:5

6 The guilt of my cherished people surpasses the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, without a hand to help her.ISV — Lamentations 4:6

7 Her princes ^{b4:7 Or Nazirites} were purer than snow, whiter than milk. Their bodies were more ruddy ^{c4:7 i.e. reddish brown skin color} than rubies, their beards like the color of precious stones.ISV — Lamentations 4:7

8 Now their faces are blacker than coal; they are unrecognized in the streets. Their skin clings to their bones; it has become dry like a stick.ISV — Lamentations 4:8

9 Those who die by the sword are better off than those who die from starvation, who slowly waste away like those pierced through for lack of food from the fields.ISV — Lamentations 4:9

10 With their own hands, compassionate women boil their own children— they become their food— when my beloved people were ^{d4:10 Lit. when the daughter of my people was} destroyed.ISV — Lamentations 4:10

11 The LORD has exhausted his wrath, pouring out his fierce anger. He kindled a fire in Zion, consuming its foundations.ISV — Lamentations 4:11

12 None of the kings of the earth would have believed, nor the world’s inhabitants, that the adversary and the enemy could have breached the gates of Jerusalem.ISV — Lamentations 4:12

13 Due to the sins committed by her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests who shed in her midst, the blood of the righteous,ISV — Lamentations 4:13

14 people stagger around in the streets like the blind, defiled by blood unclean so that no one is able to touch their clothing.ISV — Lamentations 4:14

15 “Go away! Unclean!” they shouted at them. “Go away! Go away! Don’t touch!” When they fled away and wandered, those among the nations decreed, “They cannot live here!”ISV — Lamentations 4:15

16 The LORD himself separated them; he will do nothing more for them. They did not respect their own priests; they did not honor their elders.ISV — Lamentations 4:16

17 Our eyes failed, searching in vain for hope; we kept watching and looking for a nation that would not help.ISV — Lamentations 4:17

18 Our steps were closely stalked, so we couldn’t travel on our own streets. Our end is near, our days are over; indeed, our end has come.ISV — Lamentations 4:18

19 Our pursuers were swifter than soaring eagles; ^{e4:19 Lit. than eagles of the heavens} they pursued us over the mountains, lying in wait for us in the wilderness.ISV — Lamentations 4:19

20 The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. About him we had said, “Under his protection we will survive among the nations.”ISV — Lamentations 4:20

21 Celebrate and rejoice, you women ^{f4:21 Lit. daughter} of Edom, who live in the land of Uz. But to you the cup also will pass— you will become drunk and stripped naked.ISV — Lamentations 4:21

22 The punishment for your sin is complete, you women ^{g4:22 Lit. daughter} of Zion, and God ^{h4:22 Lit. he} will no longer exile you. He will punish your iniquity, you women ^{i4:22 Lit. daughter} of Edom, and he will expose your sins.ISV — Lamentations 4:22