The Distress of Zion
א
1How 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.
ב
2The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
ג
3Even 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.
ד
4The 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.
ה
5They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
ו
6For 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.
ז
7Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
ח
8Their 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.
ט
9They 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.
י
10The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
כ
11The 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.
ל
12The 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.
מ
13For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,
נ
14They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.
ס
15They 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.
פ
16The 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.
ע
17As 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.
צ
18They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
ק
19Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
ר
20The 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.
ש
21Rejoice 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.
ת
22The 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.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Distress of Zion
א
1 How the gold has become dim! The most pure gold has changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
ב
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!
ג
3 Even the jackals draw out the breast, they nurse their young ones: The daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
ד
4 The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst: The young children ask bread, and no man breaks it to them.
ה
5 Those who fed delicately are desolate in the streets: Those who were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
ו
6 For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid on her.
ז
7 Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.
ח
8 Their appearance is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: Their skin clings to their bones; it is withered, it has become like a stick.
ט
9 Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.
י
10 The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children; They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
כ
11 Yahweh has accomplished his wrath, he has poured out his fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations.
ל
12 The kings of the earth didn’t believe, neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.
מ
13 It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.
נ
14 They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, So that men can’t touch their garments.
ס
15 Depart! they cried to them, Unclean! depart, depart, don’t touch! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall not live here any more.
פ
16 The anger of Yahweh has scattered them; he will no more regard them: They didn’t respect the persons of the priests, they didn’t favor the elders.
ע
17 Our eyes still fail, looking in vain for our help: In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
צ
18 They hunt our steps, so that we can’t go in our streets: Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end has come.
ק
19 Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky: They chased us on the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
ר
20 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Yahweh, was taken in their pits; Of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.
ש
21 Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, that dwell in the land of Uz: The cup shall pass through to you also; you shall be drunken, and shall make yourself naked.
ת
22 The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion; he will no more carry you away into captivity: He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom; he will uncover your sins.
The Distress of Zion
1 How a the gold has become tarnished,
the pure gold has become dull!
The gems of the temple lie scattered
on every street corner.
2 How the precious sons of Zion,
once worth their weight in pure gold,
are now esteemed as jars of clay,
the work of a potter’s hands!
3 Even jackals b offer their breasts
to nurse their young,
but the daughter of my people has become cruel,
like an ostrich in the wilderness.
4 The nursing infant’s tongue
clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth.
Little children beg for bread,
but no one gives them any.
5 Those who once ate delicacies
are destitute in the streets;
those brought up in crimson
huddle in ash heaps.
6 The punishment c of the daughter of my people
is greater than that of Sodom,
which was overthrown in an instant
without a hand turned to help her.
7 Her dignitaries were brighter than snow,
whiter than milk;
their bodies were more ruddy than rubies,
their appearance d like sapphires. e
8 But now their appearance is blacker than soot;
they are not recognized in the streets.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones;
it has become as dry as a stick.
9 Those slain by the sword are better off
than those who die of hunger,
who waste away, pierced with pain
because the fields lack produce.
10 The hands of compassionate women
have cooked their own children,
who became their food
in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 The LORD has exhausted His wrath;
He has poured out His fierce anger;
He has kindled a fire in Zion,
and it has consumed her foundations.
12 The kings of the earth did not believe,
nor any people of the world,
that an enemy or a foe
could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
13 But this was for the sins of her prophets
and the guilt of her priests,
who shed the blood of the righteous
in her midst.
14 They wandered blind in the streets,
defiled by this blood,
so that no one dared
to touch their garments.
15 “Go away! Unclean!”
men shouted at them.
“Away, away! Do not touch us!”
So they fled and wandered.
Among the nations it was said,
“They can stay here no longer.”
16 The presence of the LORD has scattered them;
He regards them no more.
The priests are shown no honor;
the elders find no favor.
17 All the while our eyes were failing
as we looked in vain for help.
We watched from our towers
for a nation that could not save us.
18 They stalked our every step,
so that we could not walk in our streets.
Our end drew near, our time ran out,
for our end had come!
19 Those who chased us were swifter
than the eagles in the sky;
they pursued us over the mountains
and ambushed us in the wilderness.
20 The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life,
was captured in their pits.
We had said of him,
“Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”
21 So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom,
you who dwell in the land of Uz.
Yet the cup will pass to you as well;
you will get drunk and expose yourself.
22 O Daughter of Zion, your punishment is complete;
He will not prolong your exile. f
But He will punish your iniquity, O Daughter of Edom;
He will expose your sins.
Footnotes:
1 a This chapter is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
3 b Or serpents or dragons
6 c Or iniquity
7 d Or their polishing or their hair
7 e Hebrew lapis lazuli
22 f Or He will not exile you again
The Distress of Zion
א
1How is the gold become dim, Changed the best -- the pure gold? Poured out are stones of the sanctuary At the head of all out-places.
ב
2The precious sons of Zion, Who are comparable with fine gold, How have they been reckoned earthen bottles, Work of the hands of a potter.
ג
3Even dragons have drawn out the breast, They have suckled their young ones, The daughter of my people is become cruel, Like the ostriches in a wilderness.
ד
4Cleaved hath the tongue of a suckling unto his palate with thirst, Infants asked bread, a dealer out they have none.
ה
5Those eating of dainties have been desolate in out-places, Those supported on scarlet have embraced dunghills.
ו
6And greater is the iniquity of the daughter of my people, Than the sin of Sodom, That was overturned as in a moment, And no hands were stayed on her.
ז
7Purer were her Nazarites than snow, Whiter than milk, ruddier of body than rubies, Of sapphire their form.
ח
8Darker than blackness hath been their visage, They have not been known in out-places, Cleaved hath their skin unto their bone, It hath withered -- it hath been as wood.
ט
9Better have been the pierced of a sword Than the pierced of famine, For these flow away, pierced through, Without the increase of the field.
י
10The hands of merciful women have boiled their own children, They have been for food to them, In the destruction of the daughter of my people.
כ
11Completed hath Jehovah His fury, He hath poured out the fierceness of His anger, And he kindleth a fire in Zion, And it devoureth her foundations.
ל
12Believe not did the kings of earth, And any of the inhabitants of the world, That come would an adversary and enemy Into the gates of Jerusalem.
מ
13Because of the sins of her prophets, The iniquities of her priests, Who are shedding in her midst the blood of the righteous,
נ
14They have wandered naked in out-places, They have been polluted with blood, Without any being able to touch their clothing,
ס
15'Turn aside -- unclean,' they called to them, 'Turn aside, turn aside, touch not,' For they fled -- yea, they have wandered, They have said among nations: 'They do not add to sojourn.'
פ
16The face of Jehovah hath divided them, He doth not add to behold them, The face of priests they have not lifted up, Elders they have not favoured.
ע
17While we exist -- consumed are our eyes for our vain help, In our watch-tower we have watched for a nation that saveth not.
צ
18They have hunted our steps from going in our broad-places, Near hath been our end, fulfilled our days, For come hath our end.
ק
19Swifter have been our pursuers, Than the eagles of the heavens, On the mountains they have burned after us, In the wilderness they have laid wait for us.
ר
20The breath of our nostrils -- the anointed of Jehovah, Hath been captured in their pits, of whom we said: 'In his shadow we do live among nations.'
ש
21Joy and rejoice, O daughter of Edom, Dwelling in the land of Uz, Even unto thee pass over doth a cup, Thou art drunk, and makest thyself naked.
ת
22Completed is thy iniquity, daughter of Zion, He doth not add to remove thee, He hath inspected thy iniquity, O daughter of Edom, He hath removed thee because of thy sins!
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