Lamentations:4

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* How the gold has become dim ! How changed the fine gold ! The stones of the sanctuary are scattered At the head of every street . * The precious sons of Zion , Valuable as fine gold , How they are regarded as clay pots , The work of the hands of the potter ! * Even the jackals present their breasts To nurse their young ; But the daughter of my people is cruel , Like ostriches in the wilderness . * The tongue of the infant clings To the roof of its mouth for thirst ; The young children ask for bread , But no one breaks it for them . * Those who ate delicacies Are desolate in the streets ; Those who were brought up in scarlet Embrace ash heaps . * The punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people Is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom , Which was overthrown in a moment , With no hand to help her ! * Her Nazirites were brighter than snow And whiter than milk ; They were more ruddy in body than rubies , Like sapphire in their appearance . * Now their appearance is blacker than soot ; They go unrecognized in the streets ; Their skin clings to their bones , It has become as dry as wood . * Those slain by the sword are better off Than those who die of hunger ; For these pine away , Stricken for lack of the fruits of the field . * The hands of the compassionate women Have cooked their own children ; They became food for them In the destruction of the daughter of my people . * 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 . * The kings of the earth , And all inhabitants of the world , Would not have believed That the adversary and the enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem -- * Because of the sins of her prophets And the iniquities of her priests , Who shed in her midst The blood of the just . * They wandered blind in the streets ; They have defiled themselves with blood , So that no one would touch their garments . * They cried out to them , "Go away , unclean ! Go away , go away , Do not touch us !" When they fled and wandered , Those among the nations said , "They shall no longer dwell here ." * The face of the LORD scattered them ; He no longer regards them . The people do not respect the priests Nor show favor to the elders . * Still our eyes failed us , Watching vainly for our help ; In our watching we watched For a nation that could not save us . * They tracked our steps So that we could not walk in our streets . Our end was near ; Our days were over , For our end had come . * Our pursuers were swifter Than the eagles of the heavens . They pursued us on the mountains And lay in wait for us in the wilderness . * The breath of our nostrils , the anointed of the LORD , Was caught in their pits , Of whom we said , "Under his shadow We shall live among the nations ." * Rejoice and be glad , O daughter of Edom , You who dwell in the land of Uz ! The cup shall also pass over to you And you shall become drunk and make yourself naked . * The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished , O daughter of Zion ; He will no longer send you into captivity . He will punish your iniquity , O daughter of Edom ; He will uncover your sins !

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