Lamentations 4:1-9 Oh how is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! how are the stones of the sanctuary poured out at the corners of every street.

Leeser⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Oh how is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! how are the stones of the sanctuary poured out at the corners of every street. ² The precious sons of Zion, valued equal to pure gold, how are they now esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! ³ Even wild beasts offer 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 suckling cleaveth to its palate by reason of thirst: babes ask for bread, there is not one to break it for them. ⁵ Those that used to eat dainty food are desolate in the streets: they that were reared up on scarlet now embrace dunghills. ⁶ For greater is the iniquity of the daughter of my people than the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as it were in a moment, and no human hands were laid on her. ⁷ Her crowned princes were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more brilliant in body than pearls, more than the sapphire, their countenance: ⁸ Darker than black is now their visage; they are not to be recognized in the streets: their skin is shriveled fast upon their bones; it is dry, it is become like wood. ⁹ Happier are those slain by the sword than those slain by hunger; for those poured forth their blood, being pierced through,—these perished without the fruits of the field.