1 ¶ How the gold has become dim! how the most pure gold has changed! the stones of the sanctuary are thrown down at the head of every street.

2 The precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold, are now treated like clay pitchers, the work of the hands of a potter!

3 Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like ostriches in the wilderness.

4 The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children beg for bread, and no one breaks off pieces for them.

5 Those who feasted on delicacies are wasting away in the streets: those who were brought up in scarlet huddle in garbage heaps.

6 For the punishment of the sin of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown in a moment, with no man’s hand laid upon her.

7 Her dignitaries were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than corals, their appearance like a sapphire:

8 They now look blacker than soot; and no one recognizes them on the streets: their skin cleaves to their bones; it is withered, it has become like a stick.

9 Those who were slain with the sword are better off than those who are slain with hunger: for these waste away, struck down by lack of food from the field.

10 The hands of formerly compassionate women have cooked their own children: they were their food during the destruction of the daughter of my people.

11 The LORD has exhausted his fury; he has poured out his fierce anger, and has lit a fire in Zion that has consumed its foundations.

12 Neither the kings of the earth, nor any of its inhabitants, would have believed that the oppressor or enemy could have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.

13 ¶ It happened because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, who have shed the blood of the righteous in the midst of her,

14 They have wandered like blind men in the streets, they have so polluted themselves with blood, that no one dared to touch their garments.

15 They called to them, Get away; unclean; get away, get away, do not touch anyone: when they became fugitives and wanderers, it was said among the heathen, They shall not remain here any longer.

16 The anger of the LORD has scattered them; he will no longer regard them with favor: they no longer respect the priests, nor are they kind to the elderly.

17 As for us, we are straining our eyes looking in vain for help: we watched from our towers for a nation that refused to help.

18 They follow our steps, so that we cannot go into our streets: our end is near, our days have passed; yes our end has come.

19 Our pursuers are swifter than eagles in the sky: they pursued us on the mountains, they laid in wait for us in the wilderness.

20 The breath of our life, the anointed of the LORD, was caught in their snares, though we said, Under his shadow we will live among the nations.

21 ¶ Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, living in the land of Uz; but the cup will also come to you: you will be drunken, and will make yourself naked.

22 The punishment of your iniquity is complete, O daughter of Zion; he will not lengthen your captivity: but he will punish your sin, O daughter of Edom; he will expose your sins.