(KJV) Lamentations 4¹

⥃The Distress of Zion

[1] How is the gold² become dim! [how] is the most fine gold changed! the stones³ of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. [2] The precious sons⁴ of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how⁵ are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! [3] Even the sea monsters⁶ draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter⁷ of my people [is become] cruel, like⁸ the ostriches in the wilderness. [4] The tongue⁹ of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young¹⁰ children ask bread, [and] no man breaketh [it] unto them. [5] They that did¹¹ feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought¹² up in scarlet embrace¹³ dunghills. [6] For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter¹⁴ of my people is greater than the punishment¹⁵ of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. [7] Her Nazarites¹⁶ were purer¹⁷ than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing¹⁸ [was] of sapphire: [8] Their visage¹⁹ is blacker than a coal²⁰; they²¹ are not known in the streets: their skin²² cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick. [9] [They that be] slain with the sword are better than [they that be] slain with hunger: for²³ these pine away²⁴, stricken through for [want of] the fruits of the field. [10] The hands²⁵ of the pitiful²⁶ women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in²⁷ the destruction of the daughter of my people. [11] The Lord²⁸ hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled²⁹ a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof. [12] The 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.³⁰

[13] For the sins³¹ of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, that³² have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her, [14] They have wandered³³ [as] blind [men] in the streets, they have polluted³⁴ themselves with blood, so that men could not touch³⁵ their garments. [15] They cried unto them, Depart ye; [it is] unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn [there]. [16] The anger³⁶ of the Lord hath³⁷ divided them; he will³⁸ no more regard them: they respected³⁹ not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders. [17] As for us, our eyes⁴⁰ as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a⁴¹ nation [that] could not save [us]. [18] They hunt⁴² our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near⁴³, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come. [19] Our persecutors⁴⁴ are swifter than the eagles⁴⁵ of the heaven: they pursued⁴⁶ us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness. [20] The breath⁴⁷ of our nostrils, the anointed⁴⁸ of the Lord, was taken⁴⁹ in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.

[21] Rejoice and be glad⁵⁰, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land⁵¹ of Uz; the cup⁵² also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt⁵³ make thyself naked.

[22] [¶]The punishment of thine iniquity⁵⁴ is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no⁵⁵ more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit⁵⁶ thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins⁵⁷.