Terrors of the Besieged City

א Alef

4 How the gold has become tarnished,

the fine gold become dull!

The stones of the temple w lie scattered

at the corner of every street. x

ב Bet

2 * Zion’s precious people—

once worth their weight in pure gold y—

how they are regarded as clay jars,

the work of a potter’s hands!

ג Gimel

3 Even jackals offer their breasts

to nurse their young,

but my dear people have become cruel

like ostriches z in the wilderness.

ד Dalet

4 The nursing infant’s tongue

clings to the roof of his mouth from thirst. a

Little children beg for bread,

but no one gives them any.

ה He

5 Those who used to eat delicacies

are destitute in the streets;

those who were reared in purple garments b

huddle in garbage heaps.

ו Vav

6 The punishment of my dear people

is greater than that of Sodom, c

which was overthrown in an instant

without a hand laid on it.

ז Zayin

7 Her dignitaries were brighter than snow,

whiter than milk;

their bodies d were more ruddy than coral,

their appearance like sapphire. e

ח Khet

8 Now they appear darker than soot; f

they are not recognized in the streets.

Their skin has shriveled on their bones;

it has become dry like wood.

ט Tet

9 Those slain by the sword are better off

than those slain by hunger,

who waste away, pierced with pain

because the fields lack produce.

י Yod

10 The hands of compassionate women

have cooked their own children; g

they became their food

during the destruction of my dear people. h

כ Kaf

11 The Lord has exhausted His wrath,

poured out His burning anger;

He has ignited a fire in Zion,

and it has consumed her foundations. i

ל Lamed

12 The kings of the earth

and all the world’s inhabitants did not believe

that an enemy or adversary

could enter Jerusalem’s gates. j

מ Mem

13 Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets

and the * guilt of her priests,

who shed the blood of the righteous

within her. k

נ Nun

14 Blind, they stumbled in the streets, l

defiled by this blood, m

so that no one dared

to touch their garments.

ס Samek

15 “Stay away! * Unclean!” people shouted at them.

“Away, away! Don’t touch us!” n

So they wandered aimlessly. o

It was said among the nations,

“They can stay here no longer.”

פ Pe

16 The Lord Himself has scattered them;

He regards them no more.

The priests are not respected;

the elders find no favor.

ע Ayin

17 All the while our eyes were failing

as we looked in vain for assistance; p

we watched from our towers

for a nation q that refused to help.

צ Tsade

18 Our steps were closely followed

so that we could not walk in our streets.

Our end drew near; r our time ran out.

Our end had come!

ק Qof

19 Those who chased us were swifter

than eagles in the sky; s

they relentlessly pursued us over the mountains

and ambushed us in the wilderness.

ר Resh

20 The Lord’s anointed, t the breath of our life, u v

was captured in their traps.

We had said about him,

“We will live under his protection among the nations.”

שׂ Sin

21 So rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom, w

you resident of the land of Uz! x

Yet the cup y will pass to you as well;

you will get drunk and expose yourself.

ת Tav

22 Daughter Zion, your punishment is complete;

He will not lengthen your exile. z

But He will punish your iniquity, Daughter Edom,

and will expose your sins. a