Lamentations 4

Glory Turned to Ruin

1 How the gold got dull, how the pure gold changed. Holy stones scattered at every street corner.

2 The precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, now treated like cheap clay pots made by a potter.

3 Even wild animals nurse their young, but my people are heartless, like ostriches in the desert.

4 Babies’ tongues stick to the roof of their mouths from thirst. Kids beg for bread, but nobody breaks it for them.

5 Those who used to eat fancy food are now starving in the streets. The ones raised in luxury are laid out on ash piles.

6 The punishment of my people is worse than the fall of Sodom, which was wiped out in a moment with no hands touching it.

Leaders Brought Low

7 Her princes were once pure, brighter than snow and milk. Their bodies were healthier than coral, polished like sapphire.

8 Now they are unrecognizable, darker than soot. No one knows them in the streets. Their skin sticks to their bones, dried up like wood.

9 Those killed by the sword are better off than those starving to death, wasting away with no food from the fields.

10 Compassionate women cooked their own children. They became food during the destruction of my people.

The Lord’s Anger Poured Out

11 The LORD let His wrath loose. He poured out His fierce anger and lit a fire in Zion that burned up her foundations.

12 The kings of the earth never believed, nor did anyone else, that enemies would walk through Jerusalem’s gates.

13 This happened because of the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who spilled innocent blood in the city.

14 They wandered blind through the streets, stained with blood. People avoided them, saying, “Do not touch that.”

Judgment on the Unfaithful

15 People shouted at them, “Get away! You are unclean!” They ran off and wandered. Even the nations said, “They cannot stay here.”

16 The LORD Himself scattered them. He showed no favor. He did not respect priests or show mercy to elders.

17 Our eyes wore out looking for help that never came. We watched for a nation that could not save us.

18 They stalked our steps so we could not walk freely. Our end was near. Our days were numbered.

19 Our pursuers were faster than eagles in the sky. They chased us over mountains and waited for us in the desert.

Hope Fading and Justice Coming

20 The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, got caught in their traps. We said, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”

21 Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, living in the land of Uz. The cup will pass to you too. You will get drunk and exposed.

22 Daughter Zion, your punishment is finished. He will not exile you anymore. But daughter of Edom, He will punish your sin and uncover it.