CHAPTER 4
How
the gold
has become tarnished,
the pure
gold
has become dull!
The gems
of the temple
lie scattered
on every
street
corner.
How
the precious
sons
of Zion,
once worth their weight
in pure gold,
are now esteemed
as clay
jars,
the work
of a potter’s
hands!
Even
jackals
offer
their breasts
to nurse
their young,
but the daughter
of my people
has become cruel,
like an ostrich
in the wilderness.
The nursing infant’s
tongue
clings
in thirst
to
the roof of his mouth.
Little children
beg for
bread,
but no
one gives them any.
Those who once ate
delicacies
are destitute
in the streets;
those brought up
in
purple
huddle
in ash heaps.
The punishment
of the daughter
of my people
is greater
than that
of Sodom,
which was overthrown
in
an instant
without
a hand
turned toward her.
Her dignitaries
were brighter
than snow,
whiter
than milk;
their bodies
were more ruddy
than rubies,
their appearance
like sapphires.
But now their appearance
is blacker
than soot;
they are not
recognized
in the streets.
Their skin
has shriveled
on
their bones;
it has become
as dry
as a stick.
Those slain
by the sword
are
better off
than those who die
of hunger,
who
waste away,
pierced with pain
because the fields
lack produce.
The hands
of compassionate
women
have cooked
their own children,
who became
their food
in the destruction
of the daughter
of my people.
The LORD
has exhausted
His wrath;
He has poured out
His fierce
anger;
He has kindled
a fire
in Zion,
and it has consumed
her foundations.
The kings
of the earth
did not
believe,
nor any
people
of the world,
that
an enemy
or a foe
could enter
the gates
of Jerusalem.
But this was for the sins
of her prophets
and the guilt
of her priests,
who shed
the blood
of the righteous
in her midst.
They wandered
blind
in the streets,
defiled
by this blood,
so that no
one dared
to touch
their garments.
“Go away!
Unclean!”
men shouted at them.
“Away,
away!
Do not
touch us!”
So
they fled
and
wandered.
Among the nations
it was said,
“They can stay
here no
longer.”
The LORD Himself
has scattered them;
He regards
them no
more.
The priests
are shown no honor,
the elders
find no
favor.
All the while
our eyes
were failing
as we looked in vain
for
help.
We watched
from our towers
for
a nation
that could not
save us.
They stalked
our every step,
so that we could not walk
in our streets.
Our end
drew near,
our time
ran out,
for our end
had come!
Those who chased us
were
swifter
than the eagles
in the sky;
they pursued us
over
the mountains
and ambushed us
in the wilderness.
The LORD’s
anointed,
the breath
of our life,
was captured
in their pits.
We had said
of him,
“Under his shadow
we will live
among the nations.”
So rejoice
and be glad,
O daughter
of Edom,
who dwells
in the land
of Uz.
Yet the cup
will pass
to
you as well;
you will get drunk
and expose yourself.
O Daughter
of Zion,
your punishment
is complete;
He will not
prolong
your exile.
But He will punish
your iniquity,
O Daughter
of Edom;
He will expose
your sins.