¶ How is the gold¹ become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones² of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.

The precious sons³ of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how⁴ are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

Even the sea monsters⁵ draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like⁶ the ostriches in the wilderness.

The tongue⁷ of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young⁸ children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.

They that did⁹ feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought¹⁰ up in scarlet embrace¹¹ dunghills.

For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter¹² of my people is greater than the punishment¹³ of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.

Her Nazarites¹⁴ were purer¹⁵ than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing¹⁶ was of sapphire:

Their visage¹⁷ is blacker than a coal¹⁸; they¹⁹ are not known in the streets: their skin²⁰ cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for²¹ these pine away²², stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.

¶ The hands²³ of the pitiful²⁴ women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in²⁵ the destruction of the daughter of my people.

The LORD²⁶ hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled²⁷ a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.

²⁸The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.

¶ For the sins²⁹ of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that³⁰ have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,

They have wandered³¹ as blind men in the streets, they have polluted³² themselves with blood, so that men could not touch³³ their garments.

They cried unto them, Depart ye;³⁴ it is unclean³⁵; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there.

The anger³⁶ of the LORD hath divided them; he will³⁷ no more regard them: they respected³⁸ not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.

As for us, our eyes³⁹ as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a⁴⁰ nation that could not save us.

They hunt⁴¹ our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near⁴², our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.

Our persecutors⁴³ are swifter than the eagles⁴⁴ of the heaven: they pursued⁴⁵ us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

¶ The breath⁴⁶ of our nostrils, the anointed⁴⁷ of the LORD, was taken⁴⁸ in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.

¶ Rejoice and be glad⁴⁹, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land⁵⁰ of Uz; the cup⁵¹ also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt⁵² make thyself naked.

The punishment of thine iniquity⁵³ is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no⁵⁴ more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit⁵⁵ thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins⁵⁶.