1 How the gold has become tarnished,the fine gold become dull!The stones of the temple lie scatteredat the corner of every street.
2 Zion’s precious people —once worth their weight in pure gold —how they are regarded as clay jars,the work of a potter’s hands!
3 Even jackals offer their breaststo nurse their young,but my dear people have become cruellike ostriches in the wilderness.
4 The nursing infant’s tongueclings 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 delicaciesare destitute in the streets;those who were reared in purple garments huddle in garbage heaps.
6 The punishment of my dear peopleis greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instantwithout a hand laid on it.