Fourth lamentation
1How tarnished the gold has become.
The fine gold has lost its luster.
Why, the sacred stones lie strewn
at every street corner!
2Oh, the precious sons of Zion,
once worth their weight in gold –
but now reckoned no more
than earthen jars from a potter’s mold!
3Even jackals bare their breasts
to suckle their young,
but my people have become heartless,
like ostriches in the desert land.
4In thirst the infant’s tongue
cleaves to the roof of its mouth.
Children are begging for alms,
but there is no one to help them.
5Those accustomed to fine food
now lie dying in the streets.
Those accustomed to wear purple
now lie destitute upon the ash heaps.
6The punishment of my people
is greater than that of Sodom,
which was overthrown in an instant,
without a helping hand.
7Brighter than snow were their rulers,
even whiter than milk;
their bodies rosier than coral,
their beauty as radiant as sapphires.
8Now they look blacker than soot,
unrecognized in the streets.
Their emaciated form shows lack of food,
their skin shriveled and dry as wood.
9Better to have died by the sword
than to have perished in hunger.
The famine-stricken people perish,
and slowly, wretchedly, pass away.
10Once loving mothers, our women
have cooked their own children
and made them their food:
such has been the crash of my people!
11Yahweh has given full vent to his wrath;
pouring out his fierce anger.
He has kindled a fire in Zion,
which has consumed her foundation.
12Never had kings believed
nor the world thought possible
that the enemy could break
through the gates of Jerusalem.
13But this happened because of the priests, who sinned,
because of the prophets who transgressed,
shedding in her midst the blood of the just.
14They wandered like blind men,
groping through the streets,
so defiled with blood
that none could touch their garments.
15“Go away!” people cried at them.
“Do not touch us! You are unclean!”
They became fugitives wandering about,
but even the nations would drive them out.
16Yahweh himself has dispersed them;
no longer does he watch over them.
The priests are shown no honor;
the elders are given no favor.
17Our watchmen strained their eyes,
looking for help in vain.
We anxiously waited for an ally,
who failed to save us.
18Like dogs our enemies hounded us
and kept us off the streets.
As our end drew near,
we knew our days were numbered.
19Swifter were our pursuers,
than the eagles in the sky.
Over the hills they chased us,
they waylaid us in the wilderness.
20Our life’s breath, Yahweh’s anointed,
was taken captive in their pit –
he of whom we said, “In his protection
we shall live among the nations.”
21Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom,
you who dwell in the land of Uz.
But you shall be drunk and stripped bare,
for to you also the cup will pass.
22Your ordeal, daughter of Zion, will end;
for your exile will not be prolonged.
But Edom’s daughter will be chastised,
and her wickedness will be exposed.
