6. The punishment for my people’s wickedness has been more severethan the punishment for the sins of Sodom.Sodom was destroyed instantly, without one human hand touching it.
7. Zion’s princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk.Their bodies were more pink than coral.Their hair was like sapphires.
8. Their faces are ⌊now⌋ blacker than soot.No one recognizes them on the streets.Their skin has shriveled on their bones.It has become as dry as bark.
9. Those who were killed with swords are better offthan those who are dying from starvation.Those who were stabbed bled to death.The others are dying because there is nothing in the fields to eat.
10. The hands of loving mothers cooked their own children.The children were used for food by my peoplewhen they were being destroyed ⌊by a blockade⌋.
11. The Lord’s fury has accomplished his purpose.He unleashed his burning anger.He started a fire in Zion that even burned its foundations.
12. Neither the kings of the earth nor anyone living on earth could believethat enemies or invaders would ever get through the gates of Jerusalem.
13. ⌊They got through⌋ because of the sins of Jerusalem’s prophetsand the crimes of its priests,who spilled the blood of righteous people within it.