Lamentations 4:1-22 MEV

[1] How the gold has become dim! How the most fine gold has changed! The stones of the sanctuary lie scattered at the head of every street. [2] The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how they are esteemed as earthen pots, the work of a potter's hands! [3] Even the jackals offer the breast; they nurse their young, yet the daughter of my people has become cruel, like ostriches in the wilderness. [4] The tongue of the infant cleaves to the roof of his mouth for thirst; the children beg for bread, but no one divides it for them. [5] Those who once ate delicacies are desolate in the streets; those who were brought up in scarlet embrace ash heaps. [6] For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and no hands were wrung for her. [7] Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphire. [8] Their form is blacker than coal; they are not recognized in the streets; their skin cleaves to their bones, it has become as dry as wood. [9] Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, for they pine away, stricken for want of the fruits of the field. [10] The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people. [11] The LORD has fulfilled His fury, He has poured out His fierce anger. He kindled a fire in Zion, and it has devoured its foundations. [12] The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem. [13] This was for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who poured out in her midst the blood of the righteous. [14] They wandered, blind, in the streets; they have defiled themselves with blood, so that no one could touch their garments. [15] They cried out to them, "Depart! Unclean! Depart, depart, do not touch us!" Therefore they fled and wandered; men among the nations said, "They shall live with us no longer." [16] The presence of the LORD scattered them; He will regard them no more; they do not respect the priests, nor show favor to the elders. [17] Our eyes failed us, watching vainly for help; in our watchtowers we watched for a nation that could not save us. [18] They tracked our steps so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near; our days were numbered, for our end had come. [19] Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the skies. They pursued us on the mountains; they lay in wait for us in the wilderness. [20] The breath of our life, the anointed king of the LORD, was captured in their traps, of whom we said, "Under his shadow we shall live among the nations." [21] Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz! The cup shall also pass to you; you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare. [22] The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter of Zion, is accomplished; He shall exile you no longer. He shall punish your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins!