Lam 4 | Jub | STEP | [Aleph] How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are scattered through the crossings of every street.

Lamentations 4

1 [Aleph] How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are scattered through the crossings of every street. 2 [Beth] The sons of Zion, precious and esteemed more than pure gold, how are they taken for earthen vessels, the work of the hands of the potter! 3 [Gimel] Even the sea monsters draw out the breast; they give suck to their young ones; the daughter of my people [is] cruel like the ostriches in the wilderness. 4 [Daleth] The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of his mouth for thirst; the young children ask for bread, and there was no one to break it unto them. 5 [He] Those that did feed delicately are made desolate in the streets; those that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. 6 [Vau] For the iniquity of the daughter of my people has increased more than the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and companies did not camp upon her. 7 [Zain] Her Nazarites were whiter than snow; they were more radiant than milk; their composure had more fire than the precious stones cut from sapphire: 8 [Cheth] Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets; their skin cleaves to their bones; it is withered; it is dry like a stick. 9 [Teth] [Those] slain with the sword are better than [those] slain with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through for [want of] the fruits of the earth. 10 [Jod] The hands of the compassionate women have cooked their own children; they were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people. 11 [Caph] The LORD has accomplished his fury; he has poured out his fierce anger and has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has devoured the foundations thereof. 12 [Lamed] The kings of the earth and all the inhabitants of the world never believed that the adversary and the enemy would enter in through the gates of Jerusalem. 13 [Mem] For the sins of her prophets [and] the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her, 14 [Nun] They have wandered blindly in the streets; they were polluted in blood, so that no one could touch their garments. 15 [Samech] They cried unto them, Depart ye; [it is] unclean; depart, depart, touch not because they were contaminated; and [when they were] thrust through, they said among the Gentiles, They shall never dwell here again. 16 [Pe] The anger of the LORD has separated them; he will never look upon them again. They did not respect the countenance of the priests, nor did they have compassion on the elders. 17 [Ain] As for us, our eyes have failed in seeking our vain help; in our watching we have watched for people [that] cannot save [us]. 18 [Tzaddi] They hunt our steps that we cannot walk in our streets; our end came near; our days were fulfilled; for our end is come. 19 [Koph] Our persecutors were swifter than the eagles of the heaven; they pursued us upon the mountains; they laid wait for us in the wilderness. 20 [Resh] The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we had said, Under his shadow we shall live among the Gentiles. 21 [Schin] Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup shall also pass even unto thee; thou shalt be drunken and shalt vomit. 22 [Tau] The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will never cause thee to be carried away again; he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will uncover thy sins.: