Lamentations 4
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1How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.1How the gold has lost its luster, the fine gold become dull! The sacred gems are scattered at every street corner.
2How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!2How the precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, are now considered as pots of clay, the work of a potter's hands!
3Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like an ostrich in the wilderness.3Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my people have become heartless like ostriches in the desert.
4The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.4Because of thirst the infant's tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth; the children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them.
5Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.5Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets. Those brought up in royal purple now lie on ash heaps.
6The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.6The punishment of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment without a hand turned to help her.
7Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.7Their princes were brighter than snow and whiter than milk, their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like lapis lazuli.
8But now their appearance is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.8But now they are blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.
9Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.9Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of famine; racked with hunger, they waste away for lack of food from the field.
10The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.10With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyed.
11The LORD has exhausted His wrath; He has poured out His fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has consumed her foundations.11The LORD has given full vent to his wrath; he has poured out his fierce anger. He kindled a fire in Zion that consumed her foundations.
12The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any people of the world, that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.12The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the peoples of the world, that enemies and foes could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
13But this was for the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in her midst.13But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous.
14They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.14Now they grope through the streets as if they were blind. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments.
15“Go away! Unclean!” men shouted at them. “Away, away! Do not touch us!” So they fled and wandered. Among the nations it was said, “They can stay here no longer.”15"Go away! You are unclean!" people cry to them. "Away! Away! Don't touch us!" When they flee and wander about, people among the nations say, "They can stay here no longer."
16The presence of the LORD has scattered them; He regards them no more. The priests are shown no honor; the elders find no favor.16The LORD himself has scattered them; he no longer watches over them. The priests are shown no honor, the elders no favor.
17All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us.17Moreover, our eyes failed, looking in vain for help; from our towers we watched for a nation that could not save us.
18They stalked our every step, so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near, our time ran out, for our end had come!18People stalked us at every step, so we could not walk in our streets. Our end was near, our days were numbered, for our end had come.
19Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.19Our pursuers were swifter than eagles in the sky; they chased us over the mountains and lay in wait for us in the desert.
20The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”20The LORD's anointed, our very life breath, was caught in their traps. We thought that under his shadow we would live among the nations.
21So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself.21Rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom, you who live in the land of Uz. But to you also the cup will be passed; you will be drunk and stripped naked.
22O Daughter of Zion, your punishment is complete; He will not prolong your exile. But He will punish your iniquity, O Daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins.22Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion; he will not prolong your exile. But he will punish your sin, Daughter Edom, and expose your wickedness.
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Lamentations 3
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