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4:1  How is the gold become so dim? the most fine gold is changed, and the stones of the Sanctuary are scattered in the corner of every street.
4:2  The noble men of Zion comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, even the work of the hands of the potter!
4:3  Even the dragons draw out the breasts, and give suck to their young: but the daughter of my people is become cruel like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4:4  The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, but no man breaketh it unto them.
4:5  They that did feed delicately, perish in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet, embrace the dung.
4:6  For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is become greater than the sin of Sodom, that was destroyed as in a moment, and none pitched camps against her.
4:7  Her Nazirites were purer than the snow, and whiter than the milk: they were more ruddy in body, than the red precious stones: they were like polished sapphire.
4:8  Now their visage is blacker than a coal: they cannot know them in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones: it is withered like a stock.
4:9  They that be slain with the sword, are better than they that are killed with hunger: for they fade away as they were stricken through for the fruits of the field.
4:10  The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children, which were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
4:11  The Lord hath accomplished his indignation: he hath poured out his fierce wrath, he hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured the foundations thereof.
4:12  The 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 Jerusalem:
4:13  For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.
4:14  They have wandered as blind menin the streets, and they were polluted with blood, so thatthey would not touch their garments.
4:15  But they cried unto them, Depart ye polluted, depart, depart, touch not: therefore they fled away, and wandered: they have said among the heathen, They shall no more dwell there.
4:16  The anger of the Lord hath scattered them, he will no more regard them: they reverenced not the face of the Priest, nor had compassion on the Elders.
4:17  While we waited for our vain help, our eyes failed: for in our waiting we looked for a nation that could not save us.
4:18  They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled, for our end is come.
4:19  Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, and laid wait for us in the wilderness.
4:20  The breath of our nostrils, the Anointed of the Lord was taken in their nets, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall be preserved alive among the heathen.
4:21  Rejoice and be glad, O daughter Edom: that dwellest in the land of Uz, the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken and vomit.
4:22  Thy punishment is accomplished, O daughter Zion: he will no more carry thee away into captivity, but he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter Edom, he will discover thy sins.