| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1How the gold has become tarnished, the fine gold become dull! The stones of the temple lie scattered at the corner of every street. | 1How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner. |
| 2Zion's precious people-- once worth their weight in pure gold-- how they are regarded as clay jars, the work of a potter's hands! | 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! |
| 3Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my dear people have become cruel like ostriches in the wilderness. | 3Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like an ostrich in the wilderness. |
| 4The nursing infant's tongue clings to the roof of his mouth from thirst. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any. | 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. |
| 5Those who used to eat delicacies are destitute in the streets; those who were reared in purple garments huddle in garbage heaps. | 5Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps. |
| 6The punishment of my dear people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand laid on it. | 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. |
| 7Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, their appearance like sapphire. | 7Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires. |
| 8Now they appear darker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become dry like wood. | 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. |
| 9Those slain by the sword are better off than those slain by hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce. | 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. |
| 10The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children; they became their food during the destruction of my dear people. | 10The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people. |
| 11The LORD has exhausted His wrath, poured out His burning anger; He has ignited a fire in Zion, and it has consumed her foundations. | 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. |
| 12The kings of the earth and all the world's inhabitants did not believe that an enemy or adversary could enter Jerusalem's gates. | 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. |
| 13Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous within her. | 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. |
| 14Blind, they stumbled in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments." | 14They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments. |
| 15Stay away! Unclean!" people shouted at them." Away, away! Don't touch us!" So they wandered aimlessly. It was said among the nations," They can stay here no longer." | 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.” |
| 16The LORD Himself has scattered them; He regards them no more. The priests are not respected; the elders find no favor. | 16The presence of the LORD has scattered them; He regards them no more. The priests are shown no honor; the elders find no favor. |
| 17All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for assistance; we watched from our towers for a nation that refused to help. | 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. |
| 18Our steps were closely followed so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near; our time ran out. Our end had come! | 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! |
| 19Those who chased us were swifter than eagles in the sky; they relentlessly pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness. | 19Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness. |
| 20The LORD's anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their traps. We had said about him," We will live under his protection among the nations." | 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.” |
| 21So rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom, you resident of the land of Uz! Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself. | 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. |
| 22Daughter Zion, your punishment is complete; He will not lengthen your exile. But He will punish your iniquity, Daughter Edom, and will expose your sins. | 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. |
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