The Distress of Zion

א

1How is the gold become dim! the most pure gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary poured out at the top of all the streets!

ב

2The sons of Zion, so precious, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

ג

3Even the jackals offer the breast, they give suck to their young; the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

ד

4The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst; the young children ask bread, no man breaketh it unto them.

ה

5They that fed delicately are desolate in the streets; they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dung-hills.

ו

6And the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the reward of the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were violently laid upon her.

ז

7Her Nazarites were purer than snow, whiter than milk; they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their figure was as sapphire.

ח

8Their visage is darker than blackness, they are not known in the streets; their skin cleaveth to their bones, it is withered, it is become like a stick.

ט

9The slain with the sword are happier than the slain with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.

י

10The hands of pitiful women have boiled their own children: they were their meat in the ruin of the daughter of my people.

כ

11Jehovah hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath consumed the foundations thereof.

ל

12The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should enter into the gates of Jerusalem.

מ

13[It is] for the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, who have shed the blood of the righteous in the midst of her.

נ

14They wandered about blind in the streets; they were polluted with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.

ס

15They cried unto them, Depart! Unclean! Depart! depart, touch not! When they fled away, and wandered about, it was said among the nations, They shall no more sojourn [there].

פ

16The face of Jehovah hath divided them; he will no more regard them. They respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the aged.

ע

17Our eyes still failed for our vain help; in our watching, we have watched for a nation that did not save.

צ

18They hunted our steps, that we could not go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.

ק

19Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens; they chased us hotly upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

ר

20The 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.

ש

21Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz: the cup shall pass also unto thee; thou shalt be drunken, and make thyself naked.

ת

22The 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 discover thy sins.