The Distress of Zion 1 Brenton Aleph. How will the gold be tarnished, and the fine silver changed! the sacred stones have been poured forth at the top of all the streets. BSB BSB: How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.
2 Brenton Beth. The precious sons of Zion, who were equalled in value with gold, how are they counted as earthen vessels, the works of the hands of the potter! BSB BSB: How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!
3 Brenton Gimel. Nay, serpents have drawn out the breasts, they give suck to their young, the daughters of my people are incurably cruel, as an ostrich in a desert. BSB BSB: Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like an ostrich in the wilderness.
4 Brenton Daleth. The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of its mouth for thirst: the little children ask for bread, and there is none to break it to them. BSB BSB: The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.
5 Brenton He. They that feed on dainties are desolate in the streets: they that used to be nursed in scarlet have clothed themselves with dung. BSB BSB: Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.
6 Brenton Vau. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people has been increased beyond the iniquities of Sodoma, the city that was overthrown very suddenly, and none laboured against her with their hands. BSB BSB: The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.
7 Brenton Zain. Her Nazarites were made purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were purified as with fire, their polishing was superior to sapphire stone. BSB BSB: Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.
8 Brenton Heth. Their countenance is become blacker than smoke; they are not known in the streets: their skin has cleaved to their bones; they are withered, they are become as a stick. BSB BSB: But now their appearance is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.
9 Brenton Teth. The slain with the sword were better than they that were slain with hunger: they have departed, pierced through from want of the fruits of the field. BSB BSB: Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.
10 Brenton Jod. The hands of tender-hearted women have sodden their own children: they became meat for them in the destruction of the daughter of my people. BSB BSB: The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 Brenton Chaph. The Lord has accomplished his wrath; he has poured out his fierce anger, and has kindled a fire in Sion, and it has devoured her foundations. BSB BSB: The LORD has exhausted His wrath; He has poured out His fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has consumed her foundations.
12 Brenton Lamed. The kings of the earth, even all that dwell in the world, believed not that an enemy and oppressor would enter through the gates of Jerusalem. BSB BSB: The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any people of the world, that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
13 Brenton Mem. For the sins of her prophets, and iniquities of her priests, who shed righteous blood in the midst of her, BSB BSB: But this was for the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in her midst.
14 Brenton Nun. her watchmen staggered in the streets, they were defiled with blood in their weakness, they touched their raiment with it . BSB BSB: They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.
15 Brenton Samech. Depart ye from the unclean ones: call ye them: depart, depart, touch them not: for they are on fire, yea, they stagger: say ye among the nations, They shall no more sojourn there . BSB BSB: “Go away! Unclean!” men shouted at them. “Away, away! Do not touch us!” So they fled and wandered. Among the nations it was said, “They can stay here no longer.”
16 Brenton Ain. The presence of the Lord was their portion; but he will not again look upon them: they regarded not the person of the priests, they pitied not the prophets. BSB BSB: The presence of the LORD has scattered them; He regards them no more. The priests are shown no honor; the elders find no favor.
17 Brenton Phe. While we yet lived our eyes failed, while we looked in vain for our help. Tsade. We looked to a nation that could not save. BSB BSB: All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us.
18 Brenton We have hunted for our little ones, that they should not walk in our streets. Koph. Our time has drawn nigh, our days are fulfilled, our time is come. BSB BSB: They stalked our every step, so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near, our time ran out, for our end had come!
19 Brenton Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky, they flew on the mountains, in the wilderness they laid wait for us. BSB BSB: Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.
20 Brenton Rechs. The breath of our nostrils, our anointed Lord, was taken in their destructive snares, of whom we said, In his shadow we shall live among the Gentiles. BSB BSB: The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”
21 Brenton Chsen. Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Idumea, that dwellest in the land: yet the cup of the Lord shall pass through to thee: thou shalt be drunken, and pour forth. BSB BSB: So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself.
22 Brenton Thau. O daughter of Sion, thine iniquity has come to an end; he shall no more carry thee captive: he has visited thine iniquities, O daughter of Edom; he has discovered thy sins. BSB BSB: O Daughter of Zion, your punishment is complete; He will not prolong your exile. But He will punish your iniquity, O Daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins.