Lamentations Chapter 4 (NIV)
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How the gold has lost its luster,the fine gold become dull!The sacred gems are scatteredat the head of every street.
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How the precious sons of Zion,once worth their weight in gold,are now considered as pots of clay,the work of a potter’s hands!
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Even jackals offer their breaststo nurse their young,but my people have become heartlesslike ostriches in the desert.
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Because of thirst the infant’s tonguesticks to the roof of its mouth;the children beg for bread,but no one gives it to them.
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Those who once ate delicaciesare destitute in the streets.Those nurtured in purplenow lie on ash heaps.
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The punishment of my peopleis greater than that of Sodom,which was overthrown in a momentwithout a hand turned to help her.
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Their princes were brighter than snowand whiter than milk,their bodies more ruddy than rubies,their appearance like sapphires.
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But now they are 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.
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Those killed by the sword are better offthan those who die of famine;racked with hunger, they waste awayfor lack of food from the field.
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With their own hands compassionate womenhave cooked their own children,who became their foodwhen my people were destroyed.
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The Lord has given full vent to his wrath;he has poured out his fierce anger.He kindled a fire in Zionthat consumed her foundations.
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The kings of the earth did not believe,nor did any of the world’s people,that enemies and foes could enterthe gates of Jerusalem.
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But it happened because of the sins of her prophetsand the iniquities of her priests,who shed within herthe blood of the righteous.
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Now they grope through the streetslike men who are blind.They are so defiled with bloodthat no one dares to touch their garments.
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“Go away! You are unclean!” men cry to them.“Away! Away! Don’t touch us!”When they flee and wander about,people among the nations say,“They can stay here no longer.”
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The Lord himself has scattered them;he no longer watches over them.The priests are shown no honor,the elders no favor.
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Moreover, our eyes failed,looking in vain for help;from our towers we watchedfor a nation that could not save us.
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Men stalked us at every step,so we could not walk in our streets.Our end was near, our days were numbered,for our end had come.
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Our pursuers were swifterthan eagles in the sky;they chased us over the mountainsand lay in wait for us in the desert.
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The Lord’s anointed, our very life breath,was caught in their traps.We thought that under his shadowwe would live among the nations.
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Rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom,you who live in the land of Uz.But to you also the cup will be passed;you will be drunk and stripped naked.
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O Daughter of Zion, your punishment will end;he will not prolong your exile.But, O Daughter of Edom, he will punish your sinand expose your wickedness.
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