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Lamentations 4 (AMP)

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¹ HOW THE gold has become dim! How the most pure gold has changed! The hallowed stones are poured out at the head of every street. ² The noble and precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold--how they are esteemed as earthen pots or pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! ³ Even the jackals draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones, but the daughter of my people has become cruel like ostriches in the wilderness . ⁴ The tongue of the nursing babe cleaves to the roof of its mouth because of thirst; the young children beg for food, but no one gives it to them. ⁵ Those who feasted on dainties are perishing in the streets; those who were brought up in purple lie cleaving to refuse and ash heaps. ⁶ For 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, and no hands had come against her or been laid on her. ⁷ her princes were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; they were more ruddy in body than rubies or corals, their shapely figures sapphire. ⁸ them look blacker than soot and darkness; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin clings to their bones; it is withered and it has become like a stick. ⁹ Those who are slain with the sword are more fortunate than those who are the victims of hunger ; for they pine and ebb away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field. ¹⁰ The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they were their food during the destruction of the daughter of my people . ¹¹ The Lord has fulfilled His wrath; He has poured out His fierce anger and has kindled a fire in Zion that has consumed her foundations. ¹² The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the inhabitants of the earth, that the oppressor and enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem. ¹³ because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed the blood of the just and righteous in the midst of her. ¹⁴ wandered in the streets as if blind; they had so polluted themselves with blood it was not for men to touch their garments. ¹⁵ cried to them, Go away! Unclean! Depart! Depart! Touch not! When they fled away, then they wandered ; men said among the nations, They shall not stay here any longer. ¹⁶ The anger of the Lord has scattered ; He will no longer look after them. They did not respect the persons of the priests; they did not favor the elders. ¹⁷ As for us, our eyes yet failed and wasted away in looking for our worthless help. In our watching we have watched and waited expectantly for a nation that could not save us. ¹⁸ dog our steps, so that we cannot go into our streets; our end is near, our days are fulfilled--yes, our end has come. ¹⁹ Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky; they pursued us on the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness. ²⁰ The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord , was taken in their snares--he of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations. ²¹ Rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. But the cup also shall pass to you; you shall become drunk and make yourself naked. ²² The punishment of your iniquity will be accomplished and completed, O Daughter of Zion; will no more carry you away or keep you in exile. But He will inspect and punish your iniquity and guilt, O Daughter of Edom; He will uncover your sins.