The Distress of Zion 1 ULT How the gold is tarnished;{ people} have changed the good fine gold. The stones of holiness are poured out at the head of every street. BETH 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 ULT The precious sons of Zion, weighed against fine gold, how they are regarded as jars of clay, the work of the hands of a potter! GIMEL 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 ULT Even jackals offer the breast; they nurse their young.{ But} the daughter of my people{ has} become cruel, like ostriches in the wilderness. DALETH 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 ULT The tongue of the nursing infant sticks to the roof of his mouth with thirst. Children ask for bread; there is no one breaking{ it} for them. HE 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 ULT The ones eating delicacies are desolate in the streets. The ones reared on scarlet embrace garbage heaps. WAW BSB BSB: Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.
6 ULT And the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown as in a moment, and hands did not tremble for her. ZAYIN 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 ULT Her Nazirites were purer than snow; they were whiter than milk. Their bones were more ruddy than corals; their form{ was} sapphire. HETH BSB BSB: Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.
8 ULT Their appearance is darker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become dry as wood. TETH 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 ULT Better were the slain of the sword than the slain of hunger, for they waste away, pierced for lack of the fruits of the field. YODH 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 ULT The hands of compassionate women boiled their children; they became food for them in the breaking of the daughter of my people. KAPH 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 ULT Yahweh brought to completion his wrath; he poured out the burning of his nose. And he kindled a fire in Zion, and it consumed her foundations. LAMEDH 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 ULT The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any of the dwellers of the world, that an adversary and an enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem. MEM 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 ULT Because of the sins of her prophets, the iniquities of her priests, the ones pouring out the blood of the righteous in her midst. NUN 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 ULT They wandered blind in the streets; they were defiled with blood, so that none were able to touch their garments. SAMEKH BSB BSB: They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.
15 ULT “Turn aside! Unclean!” they called to them.“Turn aside! Turn aside! Do not touch!” For they fled, and they also wandered. They said among the nations,“They shall not continue to sojourn.” AYIN 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 ULT The face of Yahweh divided them; he will not continue to look at them. The face of the priests they did not lift up, and the elders they did not show grace. PE 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 ULT Our eyes still ended{ looking} for our help— a vapor. In our watching, we watched for a nation{ that} does not save. TSADHE 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 ULT They hunted our steps from walking in our open places. Our end drew near; our days are full, for our end had come. QOPH 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 ULT Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens. On the mountains they chased us; in the wilderness they lay in wait for us. RESH 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 ULT The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Yahweh, was captured in their pits, of whom we said,“In his shadow we will live among the nations.” SIN 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 ULT Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, dweller in the land of Uz. Also to you the cup will pass; you will become drunk and will make yourself naked. TAW 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 ULT Your iniquity is complete, daughter of Zion; he will not continue to exile you. He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom; he will uncover your 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.
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