1How is the gold become dim ! how is the most pure gold changed ! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street . 2The precious sons of Zion , comparable to fine gold , How are they esteemed as earthen pitchers , the work of the hands of the potter ! 3Even the jackals draw out the breast , they give suck to their young ones : The daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness . 4The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst : The young children ask bread , and no man breaketh it unto them . 5They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets : They that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. 6For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom , That was overthrown as in a moment , and no hands were laid upon her .
The Suffering of the Innocent
7Her nobles were purer than snow , they were whiter than milk ; They were more ruddy in body than rubies , their polishing was as of sapphire . 8Their visage is blacker than a coal ; they are not known in the streets : Their skin cleaveth to their bones ; it is withered , it is become like a stick . 9They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger ; For these pine away , stricken through , for want of the fruits of the field . 10The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children ; They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people .
The Role of the Prophets
11Jehovah hath accomplished his wrath , he hath poured out his fierce anger ; And he hath kindled a fire in Zion , which hath devoured the foundations thereof. 12The kings of the earth believed not , neither all the inhabitants of the world , That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem . 13It is because of the sins of her prophets , and the iniquities of her priests , That have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her . 14They wander as blind men in the streets , they are polluted with blood , So that men cannot touch their garments . 15Depart ye , they cried unto them , Unclean ! depart , depart , touch not ! When they fled away and wandered , men said among the nations , They shall no more sojourn here . 16The anger of Jehovah hath scattered them ; he will no more regard them : They respected not the persons of the priests , they favored not the elders .
The Hope Amidst Despair
17Our eyes do yet fail in looking for our vain help : In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save . 18They hunt our steps , so that we cannot go in our streets : Our end is near , our days are fulfilled ; for our end is come . 19Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens : They chased us upon the mountains , they laid wait for us in the wilderness . 20The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jehovah , was taken in their pits ; Of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations . 21Rejoice and be glad , O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz : The cup shall pass through unto thee also ; thou shalt be drunken , and shalt make thyself naked . 22The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished , O daughter of Zion ; he will no more carry thee away into captivity : He will visit thine iniquity , O daughter of Edom; he will uncover thy sins .