Zion Is Punished

1 How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most pure gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.

1 How (A)dark the gold has become,How the pure gold has changed!The sacred stones are poured outAt the (a)corner of every street.

1 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.

1 How the gold has become tarnished,the fine gold become dull!The stones of the temple(a) lie scatteredat the corner of every street.(A)

1 How tarnished the gold has become, the finest gold debased! Sacred stones have been scattered at every street corner.

2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, How are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

2 The precious sons of Zion,Weighed against fine gold,How they are regarded as (B)earthen jars,The work of a potter’s hands!

2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

2 ב BetZion’s precious people—once worth their weight in pure gold(B)how they are regarded as clay jars,the work of a potter’s hands!

2 Though the precious people of Zion were like fine gold, how they are valued like clay vessels, the handiwork of a potter!

3 Even the jackals draw out the breast, they nurse their young ones: The daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

3 Even (C)jackals offer the breast,They nurse their young;But the daughter of my people has become (D)cruelLike (E)ostriches in the wilderness.

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.

3 ג GimelEven jackals offer their breaststo nurse their young,but my dear people have become cruellike ostriches(C) in the wilderness.

3 Even wild animals nurse, suckling their young; but the women of my people are cruel, like ostriches in the wilderness.

4 The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst: The young children ask bread, and no man breaks it to them.

4 The (F)tongue of the infant cleavesTo the roof of its mouth because of (G)thirst;The little ones (H)ask for bread,But no one breaks it for them.

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.

4 ד DaletThe nursing infant’s tongueclings to the roof of his mouth from thirst.(D)Little children beg for bread,but no one gives them any.

4 The nursing child's tongue cleaves to its palate from thirst. Young children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.

5 Those who did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: Those who were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

5 Those who ate (I)delicaciesAre desolate in the streets;Those (b)reared in purpleEmbrace ash pits.

5 They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

5 ה HeThose who used to eat delicaciesare destitute in the streets;those who were reared in purple garments(E)huddle in garbage heaps.

5 Those who enjoyed delicacies lie desolate in the streets. Those who were reared wearing purple scavenge in piles of trash.

6 For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid on her.

6 For the (c)iniquity of the daughter of my peopleIs greater than the (d)(J)sin of Sodom,Which was (K)overthrown as in a moment,And no hands were (e)turned toward her.

6 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.

6 ו VavThe punishment of my dear peopleis greater than that of Sodom,(F)which was overthrown in an instantwithout a hand laid on it.

6 The guilt of my cherished people surpasses the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, without a hand to help her.

7 Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.

7 Her (f)consecrated ones were (L)purer than snow,They were whiter than milk;They were more ruddy in (g)body than corals,Their polishing was like (h)(M)lapis lazuli.

7 Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:

7 ז ZayinHer dignitaries were brighter than snow,whiter than milk;their bodies(b) were more ruddy than coral,their appearance like sapphire.(c)

7 Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk. Their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their beards like the color of precious stones.

8 Their appearance is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: Their skin clings to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

8 Their appearance is (N)blacker than soot,They are not recognized in the streets;Their (O)skin is shriveled on their bones,It is withered, it has become like wood.

8 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.

8 ח KhetNow they appear darker than soot;(G)they are not recognized in the streets.Their skin has shriveled on their bones;it has become dry like wood.

8 Now their faces are blacker than coal; they are unrecognized in the streets. Their skin clings to their bones; it has become dry like a stick.

9 Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.

9 Better are those (i)(P)slain with the swordThan those (j)slain with hunger;For they (k)(Q)pine away, being strickenFor lack of the fruits of (l)the field.

9 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.

9 ט TetThose slain by the sword are better offthan those slain by hunger,who waste away, pierced with painbecause the fields lack produce.

9 Those who die by the sword are better off than those who die from starvation, who slowly waste away like those pierced through for lack of food from the fields.

10 The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children; They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

10 The hands of compassionate women(R)Boiled their own children;They became (S)food for themBecause of the destruction of the daughter of my people.

10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

10 י YodThe hands of compassionate womenhave cooked their own children;(H)they became their foodduring the destruction of my dear people.(I)

10 With their own hands, compassionate women boil their own children they become their food when my beloved people were destroyed.

11 Yahweh has accomplished his wrath, he has poured out his fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations.

11 The Lord has (T)accomplished His wrath,He has poured out His fierce anger;And He has (U)kindled a fire in ZionWhich has consumed its foundations.

11 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.

11 כ KafThe Lord has exhausted His wrath,poured out His burning anger;He has ignited a fire in Zion,and it has consumed her foundations.(J)

11 The LORD has exhausted his wrath, pouring out his fierce anger. He kindled a fire in Zion, consuming its foundations.

12 The kings of the earth didn't believe, neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.

12 The kings of the earth did not believe,Nor did any of (V)the inhabitants of the world,That the adversary and the enemyCould (W)enter the gates of Jerusalem.

12 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.

12 ל LamedThe kings of the earthand all the world’s inhabitants did not believethat an enemy or adversarycould enter Jerusalem’s gates.(K)

12 None of the kings of the earth would have believed, nor the world's inhabitants, that the adversary and the enemy could have breached the gates of Jerusalem.

13 [It is] because of the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.

13 Because of the sins of her (X)prophetsAnd the iniquities of her priests,Who have shed in her midstThe (Y)blood of the righteous;

13 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,

13 מ MemYet it happened because of the sins of her prophetsand the guilt of her priests,who shed the blood of the righteouswithin her.(L)

13 Due to the sins committed by her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests who shed in her midst, the blood of the righteous,

14 They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, So that men can't touch their garments.

14 They wandered, (Z)blind, in the streets;They were defiled with (AA)bloodSo that no one could touch their (AB)garments.

14 They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.

14 נ NunBlind, they stumbled in the streets,(M)defiled by this blood,(N)so that no one daredto touch their garments.

14 people stagger around in the streets like the blind, defiled by blood unclean so that no one is able to touch their clothing.

15 Depart! they cried to them, Unclean! depart, depart, don't touch! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall no more live [here].

15 “Depart! (AC)Unclean!” (m)they cried of themselves.“Depart, depart, do not touch!”So they (AD)fled and wandered;Men among the nations said,“They shall not continue to dwell with us.”

15 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.

15 ס Samek“Stay away! Unclean!” people shouted at them.“Away, away! Don’t touch us!”(O)So they wandered aimlessly.(P)It was said among the nations,“They can stay here no longer.”

15 "Go away! Unclean!" they shouted at them. "Go away! Go away! Don't touch!" When they fled away and wandered, those among the nations decreed, "They cannot live here!"

16 The anger of Yahweh has scattered them; he will no more regard them: They didn't respect the persons of the priests, they didn't favor the elders.

16 The presence of the Lord has scattered them,He will not continue to regard them;They did not (n)(AE)honor the priests,They did not favor the elders.

16 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.

16 פ PeThe Lord Himself has scattered them;He regards them no more.The priests are not respected;the elders find no favor.

16 The LORD himself separated them; he will do nothing more for them. They did not respect their own priests; they did not honor their elders.

The People Of Zion Speak Out

17 Our eyes do yet fail [in looking] for our vain help: In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.

17 Yet our eyes failed,Looking for (o)help was (AF)useless;In our watching we have watchedFor a (AG)nation that could not save.

17 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.

17 ע AyinAll the while our eyes were failingas we looked in vain for assistance;(Q)we watched from our towersfor a nation(d) that refused to help.

17 Our eyes failed, searching in vain for hope; we kept watching and looking for a nation that would not help.

18 They hunt our steps, so that we can't go in our streets: Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.

18 They (AH)hunted our stepsSo that we could not walk in our streets;Our (AI)end drew near,Our days were (p)finishedFor our end had come.

18 They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.

18 צ TsadeOur steps were closely followedso that we could not walk in our streets.Our end drew near;(R) our time ran out.Our end had come!

18 Our steps were closely stalked, so we couldn't travel on our own streets. Our end is near, our days are over; indeed, our end has come.

19 Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky: They chased us on the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

19 Our pursuers were (AJ)swifterThan the eagles of the sky;They chased us on the mountains,They waited in ambush for us in the wilderness.

19 Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

19 ק QofThose who chased us were swifterthan eagles in the sky;(S)they relentlessly pursued us over the mountainsand ambushed us in the wilderness.

19 Our pursuers were swifter than soaring eagles; they pursued us over the mountains, lying in wait for us in the wilderness.

20 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Yahweh, was taken in their pits; Of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.

20 The (AK)breath of our nostrils, the (AL)Lord’s anointed,Was (AM)captured in their pits,Of whom we had said, “Under his (AN)shadowWe shall live among the nations.”

20 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.

20 ר ReshThe Lord’s anointed,(e) the breath of our life,(f)(T)was captured in their traps.We had said about him,“We will live under his protection among the nations.”

20 The LORD's anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. About him we had said, "Under his protection we will survive among the nations."

The Prophet Speaks Out: Be Warned About Edom's Impending Doom

21 Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, that dwell in the land of Uz: The cup shall pass through to you also; you shall be drunken, and shall make yourself naked.

21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of (AO)Edom,Who dwells in the land of Uz;But the (AP)cup will come around to you as well,You will become drunk and make yourself naked.

21 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.

21 שׂ SinSo rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom,(U)you resident of the land of Uz!(V)Yet the cup(W) will pass to you as well;you will get drunk and expose yourself.

21 Celebrate and rejoice, you women of Edom, who live in the land of Uz. But to you the cup also will pass you will become drunk and stripped naked.

22 The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion; he will no more carry you away into captivity: He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom; he will uncover your sins.

22 The punishment of your iniquity has been (AQ)completed, O daughter of Zion;He will exile you no longer.But He (AR)will punish your iniquity, O daughter of Edom;He will expose your sins!

22 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.

22 ת TavDaughter Zion, your punishment is complete;He will not lengthen your exile.(g)But He will punish your iniquity, Daughter Edom,and will expose your sins.(X)

22 The punishment for your sin is complete, you women of Zion, and God will no longer exile you. He will punish your iniquity, you women of Edom, and he will expose your sins.

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