The Degradation of Zion
1 How the gold has become dim!
How changed the fine gold!
The stones of the sanctuary are1 scattered
At the head of every street.
How changed the fine gold!
The stones of the sanctuary are1 scattered
At the head of every street.
2 The precious sons of Zion,
1Valuable as fine gold,
How they are1 regarded aas clay pots,
The work of the hands of the potter!
1Valuable as fine gold,
How they are1 regarded aas clay pots,
The work of the hands of the potter!
3 Even the jackals present their breasts
To nurse their young;
But the daughter of my people is cruel,
aLike ostriches in the wilderness.
To nurse their young;
But the daughter of my people is cruel,
aLike ostriches in the wilderness.
4 The tongue of the infant clings
To the roof of its mouth for thirst;
aThe young children ask for bread,
But no one breaks it for them.
To the roof of its mouth for thirst;
aThe young children ask for bread,
But no one breaks it for them.
5 Those who ate delicacies
Are desolate in the streets;
Those who were brought up in scarlet
aEmbrace ash heaps.
Are desolate in the streets;
Those who were brought up in scarlet
aEmbrace ash heaps.
6 The punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people
Is greater than the punishment of the asin of Sodom,
Which was boverthrown in a moment,
With no hand to help her!
Is greater than the punishment of the asin of Sodom,
Which was boverthrown in a moment,
With no hand to help her!
7 Her1 Nazirites were brighter than snow
And whiter than milk;
They were more ruddy in body than rubies,
Like sapphire in their1 appearance.
And whiter than milk;
They were more ruddy in body than rubies,
Like sapphire in their1 appearance.
8 Now their appearance is blacker than soot;
They go unrecognized in the streets;
aTheir skin clings to their bones,
It has become as dry as wood.
They go unrecognized in the streets;
aTheir skin clings to their bones,
It has become as dry as wood.
9 Those slain by the sword are better off
Than those who die of hunger;
For these apine away,
Stricken for lack of the fruits of the bfield.
Than those who die of hunger;
For these apine away,
Stricken for lack of the fruits of the bfield.
10 The hands of the acompassionate women
Have1 cooked their bown children;
They became cfood for them
In the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Have1 cooked their bown children;
They became cfood for them
In the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 The Lord has fulfilled His fury,
aHe has poured out His fierce anger.
bHe kindled a fire in Zion,
And it has devoured its foundations.
aHe has poured out His fierce anger.
bHe kindled a fire in Zion,
And it has devoured its foundations.
12 The kings of the earth,
And all inhabitants of the world,
Would not have believed
That the adversary and the enemy
Could aenter the gates of Jerusalem—
And all inhabitants of the world,
Would not have believed
That the adversary and the enemy
Could aenter the gates of Jerusalem—
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Commentaries:
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