1Howdarkthe goldhas become,[How] the puregoldhas changed!The sacredstonesare pouredout At the cornerof everystreet.
2The precioussonsof Zion,Weighedagainst finegold,Howthey are regardedas earthenjars,The workof a potter'shands!
3Evenjackalsofferthe breast,They nursetheir young;[But] the daughterof my peoplehas become cruelLike ostrichesin the wilderness.
4The tongueof the infantcleavesTo the roofof its mouthbecause of thirst;The littleonesaskfor bread,[But] noonebreaks[it] for them.
5Those who atedelicaciesAre desolatein the streets;Those rearedin purpleEmbraceashpits.
6For the iniquityof the daughterof my peopleIs greaterthanthe sinof Sodom,Which was overthrownas in a moment,And nohandswere turnedtoward her.
7Her consecratedoneswere purerthansnow,They were whiterthanmilk;They were moreruddy[in] bodythancorals,Their polishing[was like] lapislazuli.
8Their appearanceis blackerthansoot,They are not recognizedin the streets;Their skinis shriveledon their bones,It is withered,it has becomelike wood.
9Betterare those slainwith the swordThanthose slainwith hunger;For they pineaway,being strickenFor lack of the fruitsof the field.
10The handsof compassionatewomenBoiledtheir own children;They becamefoodfor them Because of the destructionof the daughterof my people.
11The LORDhas accomplishedHis wrath,He has pouredout His fierceanger;And He has kindleda firein ZionWhich has consumedits foundations.
12The kingsof the earthdid not believe,Nor[did] anyof the inhabitantsof the world,That the adversaryand the enemyCould enterthe gatesof Jerusalem.
13Becauseof the sinsof her prophets[And] the iniquitiesof her priests,Who have shedin her midstThe bloodof the righteous;
14They wandered,blind,in the streets;They were defiledwith bloodSo that noone couldtouchtheir garments.
15"Depart!Unclean!"they criedof themselves. "Depart,depart,do not touch!"Sothey fledand wandered;[Men] among the nationssaid,"They shall not continueto dwell[with us]."
16The presenceof the LORDhas scatteredthem, He will not continueto regardthem; They did not honorthe priests,They did not favorthe elders.
17Yetour eyesfailed,[Looking] for helpwas useless;In our watchingwe have watchedFor a nationthat could not save.
18They huntedour stepsSothat we could not walkin our streets;Our enddrewnear,Our dayswere finishedFor our endhad come.
19Our pursuerswere swifterThanthe eaglesof the sky;They chasedus on the mountains,They waitedin ambushfor us in the wilderness.
20The breathof our nostrils,the LORD'Sanointed,Was capturedin their pits,Of whomwe had said,"Under his shadowWe shall liveamong the nations."
21Rejoiceand be glad,O daughterof Edom,Who dwellsin the landof Uz;[But] the cupwill comearoundto you as well,You will becomedrunkand makeyourself naked.
22[The punishment] of your iniquityhas beencompleted,O daughterof Zion;He will exileyou nolonger.[But] He will punishyour iniquity,O daughterof Edom;He will exposeyour sins!
