1How has gold become dark? How has the good gold changed? The holy stones are poured out at the head of every street.2The precious sons of Zion, weighed with pure gold—how have they been reckoned as earthenware bags, the work of a potter's hands?3Even dragons draw out the breast and suckle their whelps; the daughter of my people has become cruel, like ostriches in the wilderness.4The tongue of the nursing child cleaves to the palate in thirst. Infants ask for food, but no one spreads it to them.5Those who eat delicacies lie desolate in the streets. Those who were faithful embrace the worm upon the dung heaps.6The iniquity of the daughter of my people has grown greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overturned in a moment, and hands did not tremble over her.7Her Nazirites were purer than snow; they were more dazzling than milk; they were redder in bone than jewels; their cutting was sapphire.8Their appearance has grown dark from blackness; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled upon their bones; it has become dry like wood.9Those slain by the sword were better than those slain by famine, for they flow away, pierced, from the fruits of the field.10The hands of compassionate women have boiled their youths; they have become food for them in the breaking of the daughter of my people.11The LORD has finished his rage; he has poured out the burning anger of his face and kindled a fire in Zion that has consumed her foundations.12The kings of the land and all the inhabitants of the world did not believe that an enemy and an adversary would enter the gates of Jerusalem.13It came from her prophets' sins and the iniquities of her priests, who poured out the blood of the righteous in her midst.14The blind stagger in the streets; they are defiled with blood so that they cannot touch their garments.15Depart, unclean! they call to them. Depart, depart; do not touch! For they have fled and staggered; they say among the nations, They will not continue to sojourn.16The face of the LORD has divided them; he will not continue to regard them. The priests' faces they did not lift, and the elders they did not show favor.17Our eyes still fail us as we look for help; it is vanity in our watching. We watch for a nation that does not save.18They have hunted our steps so that we cannot walk in our streets; our end has drawn near; our days are fulfilled, for our end has come.19Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of heaven; they pursued us upon the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.20The spirit of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was captured in their pits, of whom we had said, In his shadow we will live among the nations.21Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom who dwells in the land of Uz. The cup will also pass to you; you will become drunk and will be uncovered.22The iniquity of the daughter of Zion is finished; he will not continue to exile you. He has reckoned your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he has uncovered your sins.