Lamentations:4

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* How is the gold become dim ! the most pure gold changed ! the stones of the sanctuary poured out at the top of all the streets ! * The sons of Zion , so precious , comparable to fine gold , how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers , the work of the hands of the potter ! * Even the jackals offer the breast , they give suck to their young ; the daughter of my people is become cruel , like the ostriches in the wilderness . * The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst ; the young children ask bread , no man breaketh it unto them . * They that fed delicately are desolate in the streets ; they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dung-hills . * And the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the reward of the sin of Sodom , which was overthrown as in a moment , and no hands were violently laid upon her . * Her Nazarites were purer than snow , whiter than milk ; they were more ruddy in body than rubies , their figure was as sapphire . * Their visage is darker than blackness , they are not known in the streets ; their skin cleaveth to their bones , it is withered , it is become like a stick . * The slain with the sword are happier than the slain with hunger ; for these pine away , stricken through for want of the fruits of the field . * The hands of pitiful women have boiled their own children : they were their meat in the ruin of the daughter of my people . * Jehovah hath accomplished his fury ; he hath poured out his fierce anger , and hath kindled a fire in Zion , which hath consumed the foundations thereof . * The kings of the earth , and all the inhabitants of the world , would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should enter into the gates of Jerusalem . * [It is ] for the sins of her prophets , [and ] the iniquities of her priests , who have shed the blood of the righteous in the midst of her . * They wandered about blind in the streets ; they were polluted with blood , so that men could not touch their garments . * They cried unto them , Depart ! Unclean ! Depart ! depart , touch not ! When they fled away , and wandered about , it was said among the nations , They shall no more sojourn [there ]. * The face of Jehovah hath divided them ; he will no more regard them . They respected not the persons of the priests , they favoured not the aged . * Our eyes still failed for our vain help ; in our watching , we have watched for a nation that did not save . * They hunted our steps , that we could not go in our streets : our end is near , our days are fulfilled ; for our end is come . * Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens ; they chased us hotly upon the mountains , they laid wait for us in the wilderness . * The breath of our nostrils , the anointed of Jehovah , was taken in their pits ; of whom we said , Under his shadow we shall live among the nations . * Rejoice and be glad , daughter of Edom , that dwellest in the land of Uz : the cup shall pass also unto thee ; thou shalt be drunken , and make thyself naked . * The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished , O daughter of Zion ; he will no more carry thee away into captivity . He will visit thine iniquity , O daughter of Edom ; he will discover thy sins .

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