Lamentations 4
1 How! it is dimmed gold it is changed the gold fine they lie scattered stones of holiness at [the] head of all [the] streets.
ALEPH. O how the gold has become dulled, the finest color has been altered, the stones of the sanctuary have been scattered at the head of every street.
2 [the] children of Zion precious who were weighed with pure gold how! they are considered to jars of earthenware [the] work of [the] hands of a potter.
BETH. The famous sons of Zion, and those clothed with the foremost gold: how they have become like earthen vessels, the work of the hands of a potter.
3 Also (jackals *Q(K)*) they draw out a breast they suckle young their [the] daughter of people my [has become] cruel (like ostriches *Q(K)*) in the wilderness.
GHIMEL. Yet even savages expose their breast and give milk to their young. But the daughter of my people is cruel, like the ostrich in the desert.
4 It has cleaved [the] tongue of a suckling-child to (palate its *L(abh)*) by thirst children they have asked for bread [one who] breaks [it] not [belonged] to them.
DALETH. The tongue of the infant adheres to his palate out of thirst. The little ones have asked for bread, and there was no one to break it for them.
5 The [ones] eating delicacies they are desolate in the streets the [ones] brought up on crimson they have embraced ash heaps.
HE. Those who were fed indulgently have passed away in the roads. Those who were nourished with saffron have welcomed filth.
6 And it has become great [the] iniquity of [the] daughter of people my more than [the] sin of Sodom which was overthrown like a moment and not they twisted on it hands.
VAU. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people has been made greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and yet hands did not take captives in her.
7 They were bright ones of high rank its more than snow they were dazzling more than milk they were red bone more than corals [was] sapphire polishing their.
ZAIN. Her Nazirites were whiter than snow, shinier than milk, more ruddy than ancient ivory, more beautiful than sapphire.
8 It is dark more than soot appearance their not they are recognized in the streets it has shriveled skin their on bone their dry it has become like wood.
HETH. Their face has been blacked more than coals, and they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has adhered to their bones; it dried out and became like wood.
9 Good they are [those] slain of a sword more than [those] slain of hunger who they they flow away pierced through from [the] produce of [the] field.
TETH. It was better for those slain by the sword, than for those put to death by famine. For these waste away, being consumed by the sterility of the land.
10 [the] hands of Women compassionate they have boiled own children their they have been for eating for them in [the] brokenness of [the] daughter of people my.
JOD. The hands of pitiable women have boiled their sons. They became their food in the grief of the daughter of my people.
11 He has completed Yahweh rage his he has poured out [the] burning of anger his and he has kindled a fire in Zion and it has consumed foundations its.
CAPH. The Lord has completed his fury; he has poured out the wrath of his indignation. And he has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has devoured its foundations.
12 Not they believed [the] kings of [the] earth (all *Q(K)*) [the] inhabitants of [the] world that he will go opponent and enemy in [the] gates of Jerusalem.
LAMED. The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, did not believe that the adversary and the enemy would enter through the gates of Jerusalem.
13 From [the] sins of prophets its [the] iniquities of priests its who shed in midst its [the] blood of righteous [people].
MEM. It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, who have shed the blood of the just in her midst.
14 They wandered blind [people] in the streets they were defiled by the blood in not people were able people touched clothes their.
NUN. They have wandered in the streets like the blind; they have been defiled with blood. And when they were not able, they held their garments.
15 Depart unclean people called out to them depart depart may not you touch for they fled also they wandered people said among the nations not they will increase to sojourn.
SAMECH. “Go back, you polluted ones!” they cried out to them. “Go back, go away, do not touch!” Of course, they argued, and being removed, they said among the Gentiles, “He will no longer dwell among them.”
16 [the] presence of Yahweh it scattered them not he will repeat to pay attention to them [the] face of priests not they lifted up (and elders *Q(K)*) not they showed favor to.
PHE. The face of the Lord has divided them. He will no longer respect them. They were not ashamed before the faces of the priests, nor did they take pity on the elderly.
17 (Yet we *Q(K)*) they failed eyes our to help our futility in watchtower our we watched to a nation [which] not it will save.
AIN. While we were still standing, our eyes failed, expecting help for us in vain, when we looked attentively toward a nation that was not able to save.
18 They hunted steps our from walking in open places our it drew near end our they were completed days our for it had come end our.
SADE. Our footsteps have slipped on the paths of our own streets. Our end draws near. Our days have been completed, for our end has arrived.
19 Swift they were pursuers our more than [the] eagles of heaven on the mountains they hotly pursued us in the wilderness they lay in wait for us.
COPH. Our persecutors have been swifter than the eagles of the sky. They have been pursuing us above the mountains; they have lain in wait for us in the desert.
20 [the] breath of Nostrils our [the] [one] anointed of Yahweh he was captured in pits their whom we had said in shadow his we will live among the nations.
RES. The spirit of our mouth, Christ the Lord, has been captured by our sins; to him, we said, “In your shadow, we will live among the Gentiles.”
21 Exult and rejoice O daughter of Edom ([who] dwells *Q(K)*) in [the] land of Uz also to you it will pass on a cup you will become drunk and you may strip yourself naked.
SIN. Be glad and rejoice, O daughter of Edom, who dwells in the Land of Uz. The cup will also pass to you; you will be inebriated as well as naked.
22 It will finish iniquity your O daughter of Zion not he will increase to take into exile you he will punish iniquity your O daughter of Edom he will make known on sins your.
THAU. Your iniquity has been completed, O daughter of Zion. He will no longer send you away to captivity. He has visited your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he has uncovered your sins.
