The gold has lost its luster;2
the solid gold objects3 have lost their4 shine!5
The sacred gems6 are scattered
at every street corner.7
b (Bet)
4:2 The precious sons of Zion
were once worth their weight in gold.
Alas! Now they are no more valued than8 broken clay potsherds
made by a potter.9
g (Gimel)
4:3 Even the jackals10 nurse their young
at their breast;11
but my people12 have become cruel
like ostriches13 in the desert.
d (Dalet)
4:4 The infant’s tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth
due to thirst;
Little children beg for food,14
but no one has even any bread to give to them.15
h (He)
4:5 Those who once feasted on delicacies
are now starving to death16 in the streets.
Those who grew up17 wearing expensive clothes18
are now dying19 on the ash heaps.
w (Vav)
4:6 The punishment20 of my people21
is greater than the punishment22 of Sodom,
which was overthrown in a moment
and no one lifted a hand23 to help her.
z (Zayin)
4:7 Her princes were brighter than snow,
whiter than milk;
their bodies more ruddy than rubies;
their appearance24 was like sapphires.
j (Khet)
4:8 Now their appearance25 is darker than soot;
no one even recognizes who they are26 in the streets.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones;
it has become dry like wood.
f (Tet)
4:9 Those who were killed by the sword27 are better off
than those who die of hunger;28
struck down31 by lack of32 food.33
y (Yod)
4:10 With their own hands, tenderhearted women34
have cooked35 their own children,
who became their food
when my people36 were destroyed.37
k (Kaf)
4:11 The Lord has fully vented38 his wrath;
he has poured out his fierce anger.39
He kindled a fire in Zion
which destroyed40 the very foundation stones of the city walls.41
l (Lamed)
4:12 Neither the kings of the foreign nations42
nor the people of the lands43 ever thought it possible44
that enemy or foe could ever conquer45
m (Mem)
4:13 But it happened48 because of the sins of her prophets
and the iniquities of her priests,
who unjustly killed49 the righteous
within the city.50
n (Nun)
4:14 Now they wander blindly through the streets,
ritually defiled with the blood they shed,51
so that no one dares
to touch their garments.
s (Samek)
4:15 Men cry to them, “Stay away! You are unclean!”
“Stay away! Go away! Don’t touch us!”
So they have fled and wander about;
but the nations say,52 “They may not stay with us here any longer.”
p (Pe)
4:16 The Lord himself53 has scattered them;
he no longer watches over them.
The priests will not be shown consideration,54
the elders will not be spared.55
The People of Jerusalem Lament:
u (Ayin)
4:17 Our eyes continually failed us,
as we looked in vain for help.56
From our watchtowers we watched expectantly
for a nation that could not rescue us.
x (Tsade)
4:18 Our enemies57 hunted us down at every step;58
we could not even walk about publicly in our streets.59
Our end drew near, our days were numbered,60
for our end had come!
q (Qof)
4:19 Those who pursued us61 were swifter
They chased us over the mountains;
they set an ambush64 for us in the wilderness.
r (Resh)
4:20 Our very life breath—the king anointed by the Lord65—
was caught in their traps.66
We thought67 that under his protection68
we would survive among the nations.
The Prophet Speaks:
? (Sin/Shin)
4:21 Rejoice and be glad for now,69 O people of Edom,70
you who reside71 in the land of Uz.
But the wine cup of judgment72 will be passed to you also;
you will become drunk and strip yourself naked.
t (Tav)
4:22 O people of Zion,73 your punishment74 will eventually come to an end;75
he will not prolong your exile.76
But, O people of Edom,77 he will punish your sin78
and reveal79 your treachery!
The People of Jerusalem Pray: