Lamentations 4

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

² The precious children of Zion,
    worth their weight in fine gold—
how they are reckoned as earthen pots,
    the work of a potter’s hands!^(A)

³ Even the jackals offer the breast
    and nurse their young,
but my people has become cruel,
    like the ostriches in the wilderness.^(B)

⁴ The tongue of the infant sticks
    to the roof of its mouth for thirst;
the children beg for food,
    but there is nothing for them.^(C)

⁵ Those who feasted on delicacies
    perish in the streets;
those who were brought up in purple
    cling to ash heaps.

⁶ For the chastisement of my people has been greater
    than the punishment of Sodom,
which was overthrown in a moment,
    though no hand was laid on it.^[a](D)

⁷ Her princes were purer than snow,
    whiter than milk;
their bodies were more ruddy than coral,
    their form cut like sapphire.^[b](E)

⁸ Now their visage is blacker than soot;
    they are not recognized in the streets.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones;
    it has become as dry as wood.^(F)

⁹ Happier were those pierced by the sword
    than those pierced by hunger,
whose life drains away, deprived
    of the produce of the field.^(G)

¹⁰ The hands of compassionate women
    have boiled their own children;
they became their food
    in the destruction of my people.^(H)

¹¹ The Lord gave full vent to his wrath;
    he poured out his hot anger
and kindled a fire in Zion
    that consumed its foundations.^(I)

¹² The kings of the earth did not believe,
    nor did any of the inhabitants of the world,
that foe or enemy could enter
    the gates of Jerusalem.^(J)

¹³ It was for the sins of her prophets
    and the iniquities of her priests,
who shed the blood of the righteous
    in her midst.^(K)

¹⁴ Blindly they wandered through the streets,
    so defiled with blood
that no one was able
    to touch their garments.^(L)

¹⁵ “Away! Unclean!” people shouted at them;
    “Away! Away! Do not touch!”
So they became fugitives and wanderers;
    it was said among the nations,
    “They shall stay here no longer.”^(M)

¹⁶ The Lord himself has scattered them;
    he will regard them no more;
no honor was shown to the priests,
    no favor to the elders.^(N)

¹⁷ Our eyes failed, ever watching
    vainly for help;
we were watching eagerly
    for a nation that could not save.^(O)

¹⁸ They dogged our steps
    so that we could not walk in our streets;
our end drew near; our days were numbered,
    for our end had come.^(P)

¹⁹ Our pursuers were swifter
    than the eagles in the heavens;
they chased us on the mountains;
    they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.^(Q)

²⁰ The Lord’s anointed, the breath of our life,
    was taken in their pits—
the one of whom we said, “Under his shadow
    we shall live among the nations.”^(R)

²¹ Rejoice and be glad, O daughter Edom,
    you that live in the land of Uz;
but to you also the cup shall pass;
    you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare.^(S)

²² The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter Zion, is accomplished;
    he will keep you in exile no longer;
but your iniquity, O daughter Edom, he will punish;
    he will uncover your sins.^(T)