The Distress of Zion
א
1How is the goldbecome dim![how] is the mostfine goldchanged!the stonesof the sanctuaryare poured outin the topof every street.
ב
2The precioussonsof Zion,comparableto fine gold,how are they esteemedas earthenpitchers,the workof the handsof the potter!
ג
3Even the sea monstersdraw outthe breast,they give suckto their young ones:the daughterof my people[is become] cruel,like the ostrichesin the wilderness.
ד
4The tongueof the sucking childcleavethto the roof of his mouthfor thirst:the young childrenaskbread,[and] no man breaketh[it] unto them.
ה
5They that did feeddelicatelyare desolatein the streets:they that were brought upin scarletembracedunghills.
ו
6For the punishment of the iniquityof the daughterof my peopleis greaterthan the punishmentof the sin of Sodom,that was overthrownas in a moment,and no handsstayedon her.
ז
7Her Nazariteswere purerthan snow,they were whiterthan milk,they were more ruddyin bodythan rubies,their polishing[was] of sapphire:
ח
8Their visageis blackerthan a coal;they are not knownin the streets:their skincleavethto their bones;it is withered,it is become like a stick.
ט
9[They that be] slainwith the swordare betterthan [they that be] slainwith hunger:for thesepine away,strickenthrough for [want of] the fruitsof the field.
י
10The handsof the pitifulwomenhave soddentheir own children:they were their meatin the destructionof the daughterof my people.
כ
11The LORDhath accomplishedhis fury;he hath poured outhis fierceanger,and hath kindleda firein Zion,and it hath devouredthe foundationsthereof.
ל
12The kingsof the earth,and all the inhabitantsof the world,would not have believedthat the adversaryand the enemyshould have enteredinto the gatesof Jerusalem.
מ
13For the sinsof her prophets,[and] the iniquitiesof her priests,that have shedthe bloodof the justin the midstof her,
נ
14They have wandered[as] blind[men] in the streets,they have pollutedthemselves with blood,so that men couldnottouchtheir garments.
ס
15They criedunto them, Departye; [it is] unclean;depart,depart,touchnot: when they fled awayand wandered,they saidamong the heathen,They shall no moresojourn[there].
פ
16The angerof the LORDhath dividedthem; he will no moreregardthem: they respectednot the personsof the priests,they favourednot the elders.
ע
17As for us, our eyesas yet failedfor our vainhelp:in our watchingwe have watchedfor a nation[that] could not save[us].
צ
18They huntour steps,that we cannot goin our streets:our endis near,our daysare fulfilled;for our endis come.
ק
19Our persecutorsare swifterthan the eaglesof the heaven:they pursuedus upon the mountains,they laid waitfor us in the wilderness.
ר
20The breathof our nostrils,the anointedof the LORD,was takenin their pits,of whom we said,Under his shadowwe shall liveamong the heathen.
ש
21Rejoiceand be glad,O daughterof Edom,that dwellestin the landof Uz;the cupalso shall passthrough unto thee: thou shalt be drunken,and shalt make thyself naked.
ת
22The punishment of thine iniquityis accomplished,O daughterof Zion;he will no morecarry thee away into captivity:he will visitthine iniquity,O daughterof Edom;he will discoverthy sins.
