3 Even jackals offer their breasts

to nurse their young,

but my people have become heartless

like ostriches in the desert.

4 Because of thirst the infant’s tongue

sticks to the roof of its mouth;

the children beg for bread,

but no one gives it to them.

5 Those who once ate delicacies

are destitute in the streets.

Those brought up in royal purple

now lie on ash heaps.

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.

3 Even the jackals feed their young,

but not my people Israel.

They ignore their children’s cries,

like ostriches in the desert.

4 The parched tongues of their little ones

stick to the roofs of their mouths in thirst.

The children cry for bread,

but no one has any to give them.

5 The people who once ate the richest foods

now beg in the streets for anything they can get.

Those who once wore the finest clothes

now search the garbage dumps for food.

3 Even the jackals present their breasts

To nurse their young;

But the daughter of my people is cruel,

Like ostriches in the wilderness.

4 The tongue of the infant clings

To the roof of its mouth for thirst;

The young children ask for bread,

But no one breaks it for them.

5 Those who ate delicacies

Are desolate in the streets;

Those who were brought up in scarlet

Embrace ash heaps.

3 Even wild dogs give their milk

to feed their young,

but my people are cruel

like ostriches in the desert.

4 The babies are so thirsty

their tongues stick to the roofs of their mouths.

Children beg for bread,

but no one gives them any.

5 Those who once ate fine foods

are now starving in the streets.

People who grew up wearing nice clothes

now pick through trash piles.

3 Even the jackals 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.

3 Even the jackals offer the breast, they give suck to their young; 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, no man breaketh it unto them. 5 They that fed delicately are desolate in the streets; they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dung-hills.

3 Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, 

but the women of my people are as cruel as wild ostriches. 

4 The tongues of nursing infants stick to the roofs of their mouths 

because of their thirst. 

Little children beg for bread, 

but no one will break off a piece for them. 

5 Those who used to eat delicacies are now destitute in the streets. 

Those who used to wear expensive clothes now pick through piles of garbage. 

3 Even jackals offer their breasts

to nurse their young,

but my dear people have become cruel

like ostriches in the wilderness.

4 The nursing infant’s tongue

clings to the roof of his mouth from thirst.

Little children beg for bread,

but no one gives them any.

5 Those who used to eat delicacies

are destitute in the streets;

those who were reared in purple garments

huddle in garbage heaps.

3 Even the jackals offer the breast

and nurse their young,

but my people has become cruel,

like the ostriches in the wilderness.

4 The tongue of the infant sticks

to the roof of its mouth for thirst;

the children beg for food,

but no one gives them anything.

5 Those who feasted on delicacies

perish in the streets;

those who were brought up in purple

cling to ash heaps.

3 Even the jackal bear the breast

and nurse their cubs;

but the daughter of my people has become ruthless,

like ostriches in the wilderness.

4 The tongue of the nursling cleaves

to its palate in thirst.

Children beg for food,

no one lays it out before them.

5 The ones who eat delicacies,

they are ruined in the streets;

the ones nurtured in purple

lie on piles of trash.

3 Even wild dogs

nurse their young pups.

But my people are as mean

as ostriches in the desert.

4 When our babies get thirsty,

their tongues stick to the roofs of their mouths.

When our children beg for bread,

no one gives them any.

5 Those who once ate fine food

are dying in the streets.

Those who wore fancy clothes

are now lying on piles of trash.

3 Even jackals offer the breast,

They nurse their young;

But the daughter of my people has become cruel

Like ostriches in the wilderness.

4 The tongue of the infant cleaves

To the roof of its mouth because of thirst;

The little ones ask for bread,

But no one breaks it for them.

5 Those who ate delicacies

Are desolate in the streets;

Those reared in purple

Embrace ash pits.