God's New Revelations

The Lamentations of Jeremiah

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 4 -

1
The gold has become tarnished; how the purest gold has changed! The holy stones are scattered at the corner of every street.
2
The precious sons of Zion were worth their weight in pure gold, but now they are worth no more than clay jars, the work of the potter’s hands!
3
Even the jackals offer the breast to nurse their cubs, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the desert.
4
The tongue of the nursing baby sticks to the roof of his mouth by thirst; the children ask for food, but there is none for them.
5
The ones who used to feast on expensive food now starve in the streets; those who were brought up wearing purple clothing, now lie upon piles of garbage.
6
The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, and it was overthrown in a moment and no one lifted a hand to help her.
7
Her leaders were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, their form was like sapphire.
8
Their appearance now is darker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as wood.
9
Those who have been killed by the sword were happier than those killed by hunger, who wasted away, pierced by the lack of any harvest from the field.
10
The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their food during the time when the daughter of my people was being destroyed.
11
Yahweh showed all his wrath; he poured out his fierce anger. He kindled a fire in Zion that consumed her foundations.
12
The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the inhabitants of the world believe, that enemies or opponents could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
13
This happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests who have shed the blood of the righteous in her midst.
14
They wandered, blind, through the streets. They were so defiled by that blood that no one was allowed to touch their clothes.
15
“Away! Unclean!” people cried at them. “Away! Away! Do not touch!” So they wandered about; people said among the nations, “They can stay here no longer.”
16
Yahweh himself scattered them; he does not watch over them anymore. They do not honor the priests, and they did not show any favor to the elders.
17
Our eyes failed, looking in vain for help; from our watchtowers we watched for a nation that could not rescue us.
18
They followed our steps, we could not walk in our streets. Our end was near and our days were numbered, our end had come.
19
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles in the sky. They chased us to the mountains and lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
20
The breath in our nostrils-Yahweh’s anointed one-he was the one who was captured in their pits; of whom it was said, “Under his shadow we would live among the nations.”
21
Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, you who live in the land of Uz. But to you also the cup will be passed; you will be drunk and strip yourself naked.
22
Daughter of Zion, your punishment will come to an end, he will not extend your exile. But daughter of Edom, he will punish; he will uncover your sins.
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1
How the gold has become dim! The most pure gold has changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
2
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how they are esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3
Even the jackals offer their breast. They nurse their young ones. But the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4
The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst. The young children ask for bread, and no one breaks it for them.
5
Those who ate delicacies are desolate in the streets. Those who were brought up in purple embrace dunghills.
6
For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown as in a moment. No hands were laid on her.
7
Her nobles were purer than snow. They were whiter than milk. They were more ruddy in body than rubies. Their polishing was like sapphire.
8
Their appearance is blacker than a coal. They are not known in the streets. Their skin clings to their bones. It is withered. It has become like wood.
9
Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through, for lack of the fruits of the field.
10
The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children. They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11
The LORD has accomplished his wrath. He has poured out his fierce anger. He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations.
12
The kings of the earth didn’t believe, neither did all the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.
13
It is because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the middle of her.
14
They wander as blind men in the streets. They are polluted with blood, So that men can’t touch their garments.
15
“Go away!” they cried to them. “Unclean! Go away! Go away! Don’t touch! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, “They can’t live here any more.”
16
The LORD’s anger has scattered them. He will not pay attention to them any more. They didn’t respect the persons of the priests. They didn’t favor the elders.
17
Our eyes still fail, looking in vain for our help. In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
18
They hunt our steps, so that we can’t go in our streets. Our end is near. Our days are fulfilled, for our end has come.
19
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky. They chased us on the mountains. They set an ambush for us in the wilderness.
20
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits; of whom we said, under his shadow we will live among the nations.
21
Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, who dwells in the land of Uz. The cup will pass through to you also. You will be drunken, and will make yourself naked.
22
The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion. He will no more carry you away into captivity. He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom. He will uncover your sins.
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