1. How the gold has grown dim,how the pure gold is changed!The holy stones lie scattered at the head of every street.
2. The precious sons of Zion,worth their weight in fine gold,how they are regarded as earthen pots,the work of a potter’s hands!
3. Even jackals offer the breast;they nurse their young,but the daughter of my people has become cruel,like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4. The tongue of the nursing infant sticksto the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food,but no one gives to them.
5. Those who once feasted on delicaciesperish in the streets; those who were brought up in purpleembrace ash heaps.
6. For the chastisement of the daughter of my people has been greaterthan the punishment of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment,and no hands were wrung for her.
7. Her princes were purer than snow,whiter than milk;their bodies were more ruddy than coral,the beauty of their form was like sapphire.
8. Now their face is blacker than soot;they are not recognized in the streets;their skin has shriveled on their bones;it has become as dry as wood.
9. Happier were the victims of the swordthan the victims of hunger,who wasted away, piercedby lack of the fruits of the field.
10. The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their foodduring the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11. The Lord gave full vent to his wrath;he poured out his hot anger,and he kindled a fire in Zionthat consumed its foundations.
12. The kings of the earth did not believe,nor any of the inhabitants of the world,that foe or enemy could enterthe gates of Jerusalem.
13. This was for the sins of her prophetsand the iniquities of her priests,who shed in the midst of herthe blood of the righteous.
14. They wandered, blind, through the streets;they were so defiled with blood that no one was able to touchtheir garments.
15. “Away! Unclean!” people cried at them.“Away! Away! Do not touch!”So they became fugitives and wanderers;people said among the nations,“They shall stay with us no longer.”