Terrors of the Besieged City
א Alef
1How the gold has become tarnished,
the fine gold become dull!
The stones of the temple Or The sacred gems lie scattered
at the corner of every street. Ezk 7:19-20
ב Bet
2Zion’s precious people —
once worth their weight in pure gold Is 62:3; Zch 9:16 —
how they are regarded as clay jars,
the work of a potter’s hands!
ג Gimel
3Even jackals offer their breasts
to nurse their young,
but my dear people have become cruel
like ostriches Jb 39:13-18 in the wilderness.
ד Dalet
4The nursing infant’s tongue
clings to the roof of his mouth from thirst. Ps 22:15
Little children beg for bread,
but no one gives them any.
ה He
5Those who used to eat delicacies
are destitute in the streets;
those who were reared in purple garments Jdg 8:26; Est 8:15
huddle in garbage heaps.
ו Vav
6The punishment of my dear people
is greater than that of Sodom, Gn 18–19; Is 3:9; Jr 23:14
which was overthrown in an instant
without a hand laid on it.
ז Zayin
7Her dignitaries were brighter than snow,
whiter than milk;
their bodies Lit bones were more ruddy than coral,
their appearance like sapphire. Or lapis lazuli
ח Khet
8Now they appear darker than soot; Jb 30:30; Lm 5:10
they are not recognized in the streets.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones;
it has become dry like wood.
ט Tet
9Those 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
10The hands of compassionate women
have cooked their own children; Dt 28:53; 2Kg 6:9
they became their food
during the destruction of my dear people. Jr 8:11,21; Lm 2:11; 3:48
כ Kaf
11The Lord has exhausted His wrath,
poured out His burning anger;
He has ignited a fire in Zion,
and it has consumed her foundations. Lm 2:3-4
ל Lamed
12The kings of the earth
and all the world’s inhabitants did not believe
that an enemy or adversary
could enter Jerusalem’s gates. 2Sm 5:6-8; Ps 48:1-5
מ Mem
13Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets
and the guilt of her priests,
who shed the blood of the righteous
within her. Ps 106:38-39; Ezk 22:1-5
נ Nun
14Blind, they stumbled in the streets, Dt 28:29; Is 59:10; Zph 1:17
defiled by this blood, Lv 21:11
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! ” Lv 13:45-46
So they wandered aimlessly. Gn 4:12
It was said among the nations,
“They can stay here no longer.”
פ Pe
16The Lord Himself has scattered them;
He regards them no more.
The priests are not respected;
the elders find no favor.
ע Ayin
17All the while our eyes were failing
as we looked in vain for assistance; Jr 37:7-8
we watched from our towers
for a nation Probably Egypt that refused to help.
צ Tsade
18Our steps were closely followed
so that we could not walk in our streets.
Our end drew near; Ezk 7:2-12; Am 8:2 our time ran out.
Our end had come!
ק Qof
19Those who chased us were swifter
than eagles in the sky; Jr 4:13; Hab 1:8
they relentlessly pursued us over the mountains
and ambushed us in the wilderness.
ר Resh
was captured in their traps.
We had said about him,
“We will live under his protection among the nations.”
ׂש Sin
21So rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom, Ezk 35:15; Ob 12
you resident of the land of Uz! Jr 25:20
Yet the cup Is 51:17; Jr 25:15-16; Hab 2:16 will pass to you as well;
you will get drunk and expose yourself.
ת Tav
22Daughter Zion, your punishment is complete;
He will not lengthen your exile. Or not deport you again
But He will punish your iniquity, Daughter Edom,
and will expose your sins. Ps 137:7; Ezk 25:12-14; Jl 3:19
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by Holman Bible Publishers
