Lamentations 4

The Prophet Speaks:

א (Alef)

4:11 Alas!2 Gold has lost its luster;3

pure gold loses value.4

Jewels5 are scattered

on every street corner.6

ב (Bet)

4:2 The precious sons of Zion

were worth their weight in gold –

Alas! – but now they are treated like7 broken clay pots,

made by a potter.8

ג (Gimel)

4:3 Even the jackals9 nurse their young

at their breast,10

but my people11 are cruel,

like ostriches12 in the desert.

ד (Dalet)

4:4 The infant’s tongue sticks

to the roof of its mouth due to thirst;

little children beg for bread,13

but no one gives them even a morsel.14

ה (He)

4:5 Those who once feasted on delicacies15

are now starving to death16 in the streets.

Those who grew up17 wearing expensive clothes18

are now dying19 amid garbage.20

ו (Vav)

4:6 The punishment21 of my people22

exceeded that of23 of Sodom,

which was overthrown in a moment

with no one to help her.24

ז (Zayin)

4:7 Her consecrated ones25 were brighter than snow,

whiter than milk;

their bodies more ruddy than corals,

their hair26 like lapis lazuli.27

ח (Khet)

4:8 Now their appearance28 is darker than soot;

they are not recognized in the streets.

Their skin has shriveled on their bones;

it is dried up, like tree bark.

ט (Tet)

4:9 Those who died by the sword29 are better off

than those who die of hunger,30

those who31 waste away,32

struck down33 from lack of34 food.35

י (Yod)

4:10 The hands of tenderhearted women36

cooked their own children,

who became their food,37

when my people38 were destroyed.39

כ (Kaf)

4:11 The Lord fully vented40 his wrath;

he poured out his fierce anger.41

He started a fire in Zion;

it consumed her foundations.42

ל (Lamed)

4:12 Neither the kings of the earth

nor the people of the lands43 ever thought44

that enemy or foe would enter

the gates45 of Jerusalem.46

מ (Mem)

4:13 But it happened47 due to the sins of her prophets48

and the iniquities of her priests,

who poured out in her midst

the blood of the righteous.

נ (Nun)

4:14 They49 wander blindly50 through the streets,

defiled by the blood they shed,51

while no one dares52

to touch their garments.

ס (Samek)

4:15 People cry to them, “Turn away! You are unclean!

Turn away! Turn away! Don’t touch us!”

So they have fled and wander about;

but the nations say,53 “They may not stay here any longer.”

פ (Pe)

4:16 The Lord himself54 has scattered them;

he no longer watches over them.

They did not honor the priests;55

they did not show favor to the elders.56

The People of Jerusalem Lament:

ע (Ayin)

4:17 Our eyes continually failed us

as we looked in vain for help.57

From our watchtowers we watched

for a nation that could not rescue us.

צ (Tsade)

4:18 Our enemies58 hunted us down at every step59

so that we could not walk about in our streets.

Our end drew near, our days were numbered,60

for our end had come!

ק (Qof)

4:19 Those who pursued us were swifter

than eagles61 in the sky.62

They chased us over the mountains;

they ambushed us in the wilderness.

ר (Resh)

4:20 Our very life breath – the Lord’s anointed king63

was caught in their traps,64

of whom we thought,65

“Under his protection66 we will survive among the nations.”

The Prophet Speaks:

ש (Sin/Shin)

4:21 Rejoice and be glad for now,67 O people of Edom,68

who reside in the land of Uz.

But the cup of judgment69 will pass70 to you also;

you will get drunk and take off your clothes.

ת (Tav)

4:22 O people of Zion,71 your punishment72 will come to an end;73

he will not prolong your exile.74

But, O people of Edom,75 he will punish76 your sin77

and reveal78 your offenses!

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