1. The purest gold is ruinedand has lost its shine;jewels from the templelie scattered in the streets.
2. These are Zion's people,worth more than purest gold;yet they are counted worthlesslike dishes of clay.
3. Even jackals nurse their young,but my people are like ostrichesthat abandon their own.
4. Babies are so thirstythat their tongues are stuckto the roof of the mouth.Children go begging for food,but no one gives them any.
5. All who ate expensive foodslie starving in the streets;those who grew up in luxurynow sit on rubbish heaps.
6. My nation was punished worsethan the people of Sodom,whose city was destroyedin a flash without the helpof human hands.
7. The leaders of Jerusalemwere purer than snowand whiter than milk;their bodies were healthyand glowed like jewels.
8. Now they are blacker than tar,and no one recognizes them;their skin clings to their bonesand is drier than firewood.
9. Being killed with a swordis better than slowlystarving to death.
10. Life in the city is so badthat loving mothers have boiledand eaten their own children.
11. The Lord was so fiercely angrythat he burnt the city of Zionto the ground.
12. Not a king on this earthor the people of any nationbelieved enemies could breakthrough her gates.
13. Jerusalem was punished becauseher prophets and her priestshad sinned and caused the deathof innocent victims.
14. Yes, her prophets and priestswere covered with blood;no one would come near them,as they wanderedfrom street to street.
15. Instead, everyone shouted,“Go away! Don't touch us!You're filthy and unfitto belong to God's people!”So they had to leaveand become refugees.But foreign nations told them,“You can't stay here!”
16. The Lord is the onewho sent them scattering,and he has forgotten them.No respect or kindnesswill be shownto the priests or leaders.
17. Our eyes became weary,hopelessly lookingfor help from a nationthat could not save us.
18. Enemies hunted us downon every public street.Our time was up;our doom was near.
19. They swooped down fasterthan eagles from the sky.They hunted for us in the hillsand set traps to catch usout in the desert.
20. The Lord's chosen leaderwas our hope for survival!We thought he would keep us safesomewhere among the nations,but even he was caughtin one of their traps.
21. You people of Edomcan celebrate now!But your time will cometo suffer and staggeraround naked.
22. The people of Zionhave paid for their sins,and the Lord will soonlet them return home.But, people of Edom,you will be punished,and your sins exposed.