1How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.

2The precious sons of Tziyon [parched place], comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

3Even the sea monsters 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.

4The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, [and] no man breaks [it] unto them.

5They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

6For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of S’dom [Burning], that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands detained (held) on her.

7Her N’zirim [consecrated ones] were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy (reddish hair or complexion) in body than rubies, their polishing [was] of sapphire:

8Their visage (appearance; face; look of a person) 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.

9[They that be] slain with the sword are better than [they that be] slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for [want of] the fruits of the field.

10The hands of the pitiful women have coocked (boiled) their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

11The LORD-Yehovah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) has accomplished his fury; he has poured out his fierce anger, and has kindled a fire in Tziyon [parched place], and it has devoured the foundations thereof.

12The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace].

13For the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,

14They have wandered [as] blind [men] in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.

15They cried unto them, Depart you^2f; [it is] unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn [there].

16The anger of the LORD-Yehovah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) has divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.

17As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation [that] could not save [us].

18They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.

19Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

20The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD-Yehovah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.

21Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom [Red], that dwell in the land of ‘Utz [wooded]; the cup also shall pass through unto youⁱ: youⁱ shall be drunken, and shall make yourself naked.

22The punishment of youⁱ iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Tziyon [parched place]; he will no more carry youⁱ away into captivity: he will visit youⁱ iniquity, O daughter of Edom [Red]; he will discover (uncover; reveal; have first sight of) youⁱ sins.