Ekha, starting at chapter 4
{4:1} How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most pure gold changed!
The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
{4:2} The precious sons of Tziyon, comparable to fine gold,
How are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of
the potter!
{4:3} Even the jackals draw out the breast, they give suck to their
young ones:
The daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the
wilderness.
{4:4} The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of his mouth
for thirst:
The young children ask bread, and no man breaks it to them.
{4:5} Those who did feed delicately are desolate in the streets:
Those who were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
{4:6} For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than
the sin of Sedom,
That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid on her.
{4:7} Her Nazirites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk;
They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of
sappir.
{4:8} Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the
streets:
Their skin cleaves to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a
stick.
{4:9} Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who
are killed with hunger;
For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the
field.
{4:10} The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children;
They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
{4:11} The LORD has accomplished his wrath, he has poured out his
fierce anger;
He has kindled a fire in Tziyon, which has devoured the foundations of
it.
{4:12} The kings of the [1>]eretz[<1] didn't believe, neither all the
inhabitants of the world,
That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of
Yerushalayim.
{4:13} [It is] because of the sins of her prophets, [and] the
iniquities of her [2>]Kohanim[<2],
That have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.
{4:14} They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with
blood,
So that men can't touch their garments.
{4:15} Depart you, they cried to them, Unclean! depart, depart, don't
touch!
When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They
shall no more sojourn [here].
{4:16} The anger of the LORD has scattered them; he will no more
regard them:
They didn't respect the persons of the [3>]Kohanim[<3], they didn't
favor the Zakenim.
{4:17} Our eyes do yet fail [in looking] for our vain help:
In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
{4:18} They hunt our steps, so that we can't go in our streets:
Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
{4:19} Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky:
They chased us on the mountains, they laid wait for us in the
wilderness.
{4:20} The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken
in their pits;
Of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.
{4:21} Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, that dwell in the land
of `Utz:
The cup shall pass through to you also; you shall be drunken, and
shall make yourself naked.
{4:22} The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of
Tziyon; he will no more carry you away into captivity:
He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom; he will uncover your
sins.
{5:1} Remember, LORD, what has come on us:
Look, and see our reproach.
{5:2} Our inheritance is turned to strangers,
Our houses to aliens.
{5:3} We are orphans and fatherless;
Our mothers are as widows.
{5:4} We have drunken our water for money;
Our wood is sold to us.
{5:5} Our pursuers are on our necks:
We are weary, and have no rest.
{5:6} We have given the hand to the Mitzrim,
To the Ashshur, to be satisfied with bread.
{5:7} Our fathers sinned, and are no more;
We have borne their iniquities.
{5:8} Servants rule over us:
There is none to deliver us out of their hand.
{5:9} We get our bread at the peril of our lives,
Because of the sword of the wilderness.
{5:10} Our skin is black like an oven,
Because of the burning heat of famine.
{5:11} They ravished the women in Tziyon,
The virgins in the cities of Yehudah.
{5:12} Princes were hanged up by their hand:
The faces of Zakenim were not honored.
{5:13} The young men bare the mill;
The children stumbled under the wood.
{5:14} The Zakenim have ceased from the gate,
The young men from their music.
{5:15} The joy of our heart is ceased;
Our dance is turned into mourning.
{5:16} The crown is fallen from our head:
Woe to us! for we have sinned.
{5:17} For this our heart is faint;
For these things our eyes are dim;
{5:18} For the mountain of Tziyon, which is desolate:
The foxes walk on it.
{5:19} You, LORD, abide forever;
Your throne is from generation to generation.
{5:20} Why do you forget us forever,
[And] forsake us so long time?
{5:21} Turn you us to you, LORD, and we shall be turned;
Renew our days as of old.
{5:22} But you have utterly rejected us;
You are very angry against us.
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Footnotes:
[1] {4:12} earth
[2] {4:13} priests
[3] {4:16} priests
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