Contrast between the former state of prosperity and the present state of Jerusalem in poverty.

Lamentations 4:1-22 KJVS

[1] How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.

[2] The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

[3] Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

[4] The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.

[5] They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

[6] For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.

[7] Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:

[8] Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

[9] They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.

[10] The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

[11] The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.

[12] The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.

[13] For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,

[14] They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.

[15] They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there.

[16] The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.

[17] As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.

[18] They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.

[19] Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

[20] The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.

[21] Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.

[22] The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.

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