1 GLT O how the gold is tarnished; the pure gold has changed. The holy stones are scattered at the corner of every street. 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 GLT The precious sons of Zion were weighed with fine gold. O how they are regarded as clay jars, the work of potter’ s hands! 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 GLT Even the jackals offer the breast; they nurse their cubs. The daughter of my people are fierce like the ostriches in the wilderness. 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 GLT The tongue of the nursing baby sticks to the roof of his mouth with thirst. The children ask those dispersing for food; there is none for 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 GLT Those eating the finest food are desolate in the streets. Those attended with scarlet cloth embrace piles of garbage. BSB BSB: Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.
6 GLT The guilt of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom. It was overthrown as a moment and no hands were wrung for her. 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 GLT Her Nazarites were more pure than snow; they were more white than milk. Their bones were more ruddy than coral; their parts were sapphire. BSB BSB: Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.
8 GLT Blackness has darkened their form; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become dry as wood. 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 GLT Those slain by the sword were happier than those slain by hunger, those who slowly wasted away from the piercing of the field’ s produce. 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 GLT The hands of compassionate women boiled their children; they became for them a meal 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 GLT Yahweh brought to completion his wrath; he poured out his fierce anger. And he kindled a fire in Zion that consumed 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 GLT The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any of the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary and enemy would enter into 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 GLT The sins of her prophets were more than the iniquities of her priests; they poured out in her midst the blood of the righteous. 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 GLT They stumble blind in the streets. They are defiled with blood. There were none able to touch their clothes. BSB BSB: They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.
15 GLT “Away! Unclean!” they shouted at them.“Away! Away! Do not touch!” So they fled, even stumbling. They said among the nations,“They shall not prolong the sojourn.” 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 GLT The face of Yahweh scattered them; he will not continue to watch over them. The face of the priests will no longer rise up; the elders show no grace. 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 GLT In our waiting, our eyes closed in vain for our helper. In our watchtowers, we looked to the nations. He did not rescue. 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 GLT They tracked our steps, walking in our paths. Our end drew near. Our days were fulfilled, for our end has 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 GLT Our pursuers became more swift than eagles of heaven. They set us ablaze on the mountains; they lay in wait for us in the wilderness. 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 GLT A breath of our nostrils, Yahweh’ s anointed was captured in their pits; of whom we said,“In his shadow, we will live among the nations.” 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 GLT Rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, who dwells in the land of Uz. Against you also the cup will pass; you will be drunk and go about naked. 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 GLT O Daughter of Zion, your guilt will finish; he will not extend your exile. He will visit your guilt, O 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.