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Chapter 4
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1
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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
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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
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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
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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
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They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets:
they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. |
6
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they
have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could
not touch their garments. |
15
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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. |
