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align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../lamentations/3.htm" title="Lamentations 3">◄</a> Lamentations 4 <a href="../lamentations/5.htm" title="Lamentations 5">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New American Bible Revised Edition</td><td width="1%" valign="top"></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><section id="ch31004" class="chapter"> <h1 id="cn31004" class="cn"></h1> <section> <h2 class="ahaft">Miseries of the Besieged City<a id="rfn31004000-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn31004000-1">*</a></h2> <div class="senseline"> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004001" class="ver">1</span>How the gold has lost its luster,</p> <p class="sl1">the noble metal changed;</p> <p class="sl">Jewels<a id="rfn31004001-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn31004001-1">*</a> lie scattered</p> <p class="sl1">at the corner of every street.</p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004002" class="ver">2</span>And Zion’s precious children,</p> <p class="sl1">worth their weight in gold—</p> <p class="sl">How they are treated like clay jugs,</p> <p class="sl1">the work of any potter!<a id="ren31004002-a" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en31004002-a">a</a></p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004003" class="ver">3</span>Even jackals offer their breasts</p> <p class="sl1">to nurse their young;</p> <p class="sl">But the daughter of my people is as cruel</p> <p class="sl1">as the ostrich<a id="rfn31004003-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn31004003-1">*</a> in the wilderness.<a id="ren31004003-b" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en31004003-b">b</a></p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004004" class="ver">4</span>The tongue of the infant cleaves</p> <p class="sl1">to the roof of its mouth in thirst;</p> <p class="sl">Children beg for bread,</p> <p class="sl1">but no one gives them a piece.</p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004005" class="ver">5</span>Those who feasted on delicacies</p> <p class="sl1">are abandoned in the streets;</p> <p class="sl">Those who reclined on crimson<a id="rfn31004005-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn31004005-1">*</a></p> <p class="sl1">now embrace dung heaps.<a id="ren31004005-c" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en31004005-c">c</a></p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004006" class="ver">6</span>The punishment of the daughter of my people</p> <p class="sl1">surpassed the penalty of Sodom,</p> <p class="sl">Which was overthrown in an instant</p> <p class="sl1">with no hand laid on it.<a id="ren31004006-d" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en31004006-d">d</a></p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004007" class="ver">7</span>Her princes were brighter than snow,</p> <p class="sl1">whiter than milk,</p> <p class="sl">Their bodies more ruddy than coral,</p> <p class="sl1">their beauty like the sapphire.</p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004008" class="ver">8</span>Now their appearance is blacker than soot,</p> <p class="sl1">they go unrecognized in the streets;</p> <p class="sl">Their skin has shrunk on their bones,</p> <p class="sl1">and become dry as wood.<a id="ren31004008-e" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en31004008-e">e</a></p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004009" class="ver">9</span>Better for those pierced by the sword</p> <p class="sl1">than for those pierced by hunger,</p> <p class="sl">Better for those who bleed from wounds</p> <p class="sl1">than for those who lack food.</p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004010" class="ver">10</span>The hands of compassionate women</p> <p class="sl1">have boiled their own children!</p> <p class="sl">They became their food</p> <p class="sl1">when the daughter of my people was shattered.<a id="ren31004010-f" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en31004010-f">f</a></p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004011" class="ver">11</span>The <span class="tetr">Lord</span> has exhausted his anger,</p> <p class="sl1">poured out his blazing wrath;</p> <p class="sl">He has kindled a fire in Zion</p> <p class="sl1">that has consumed her foundations.<a id="ren31004011-g" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en31004011-g">g</a></p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004012" class="ver">12</span>The kings of the earth did not believe,</p> <p class="sl1">nor any of the world’s inhabitants,</p> <p class="sl">That foe or enemy could enter</p> <p class="sl1">the gates of Jerusalem.</p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004013" class="ver">13</span>Except for the sins of her prophets</p> <p class="sl1">and the crimes of her priests,</p> <p class="sl">Who poured out in her midst</p> <p class="sl1">the blood of the just.<a id="ren31004013-h" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en31004013-h">h</a></p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004014" class="ver">14</span>They staggered blindly in the streets,</p> <p class="sl1">defiled with blood,</p> <p class="sl">So that people could not touch</p> <p class="sl1">even their garments:<a id="ren31004014-i" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en31004014-i">i</a></p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004015" class="ver">15</span>“Go away! Unclean!” they cried to them,</p> <p class="sl1">“Away, away, do not touch!”</p> <p class="sl">If they went away and wandered,</p> <p class="sl1">it would be said among the nations,</p> <p class="sl1">“They can no longer live here!</p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004016" class="ver">16</span>The presence of the <span class="tetr">Lord</span> was their portion,</p> <p class="sl1">but he no longer looks upon them.</p> <p class="sl">The priests are shown no regard,</p> <p class="sl1">the elders, no mercy.</p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004017" class="ver">17</span>Even now our eyes are worn out,</p> <p class="sl1">searching in vain for help;</p> <p class="sl">From our watchtower we have watched</p> <p class="sl1">for a nation<a id="rfn31004017-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn31004017-1">*</a> unable to save.</p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004018" class="ver">18</span>They dogged our every step,</p> <p class="sl1">we could not walk in our squares;</p> <p class="sl">Our end drew near, our time was up;</p> <p class="sl1">yes, our end had come.</p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004019" class="ver">19</span>Our pursuers were swifter</p> <p class="sl1">than eagles in the sky,</p> <p class="sl">In the mountains they were hot on our trail,</p> <p class="sl1">they ambushed us in the wilderness.<a id="ren31004019-j" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en31004019-j">j</a></p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004020" class="ver">20</span>The <span class="tetr">Lord</span>’s anointed—our very lifebreath!—<a id="rfn31004020-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn31004020-1">*</a></p> <p class="sl1">was caught in their snares,</p> <p class="sl">He in whose shade we thought</p> <p class="sl1">to live among the nations.<a id="ren31004020-k" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en31004020-k">k</a></p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004021" class="ver">21</span>Rejoice and gloat, daughter Edom,</p> <p class="sl1">dwelling in the land of Uz,<a id="rfn31004021-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn31004021-1">*</a></p> <p class="sl">The cup will pass to you as well;</p> <p class="sl1">you shall become drunk and strip yourself naked!<a id="ren31004021-l" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en31004021-l">l</a></p> <p class="slf"><span id="v31004022" class="ver">22</span>Your punishment is completed, daughter Zion,</p> <p class="sl1">the Lord will not prolong your exile;</p> <p class="sl">The Lord will punish your iniquity, daughter Edom,</p> <p class="sl1">will lay bare your sins.<a id="ren31004022-m" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en31004022-m">m</a></p> </div> </section> </section> <br /><h1 class="cn"><a class="xref" href="intro.htm"><span class="ac">Book Introduction</span></a></h1><h1 class="cn"><a class="xref" href="footnotes.htm"><span class="ac">Footnotes</span></a></h1></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the <i>New American Bible, revised edition</i> © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. 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