1 The Prophet Speaksא (Alef)Alas! Gold has lost its luster; pure gold loses value. Jewels are scatteredon every street corner. 2 ב (Bet)The precious sons of Zionwere worth their weight in gold—Alas!—but now they are treated like broken clay pots,made by a potter. 3 ג (Gimel)Even the jackals nurse their youngat their breast, but my people are cruel,like ostriches in the wilderness.4 ד (Dalet)The infant’s tongue sticksto the roof of its mouth due to thirst;little children beg for bread, but no one gives them even a morsel. 5 ה (He)Those who once feasted on delicacies are now starving to death in the streets.Those who grew up wearing expensive clothes are now dying amid garbage. 6 ו (Vav)The punishment of my people exceeds that of Sodom,which was overthrown in a momentwith no one to help her. 7 ז (Zayin)Our consecrated ones were brighter than snow,whiter than milk;their bodies more ruddy than corals,their hair like lapis lazuli. 8 ח (Khet)Now their appearance is darker than soot;they are not recognized in the streets.Their skin has shriveled on their bones;it is dried up, like tree bark.9 ט (Tet)Those who die by the sword are better offthan those who die of hunger, those who waste away, struck down from lack of food. 10 י (Yod)The hands of tenderhearted women cooked their own children,who became their food, when my people were destroyed. 11 כ (Kaf)The LORD fully vented his wrath;he poured out his fierce anger. He started a fire in Zion;it consumed her foundations. 12 ל (Lamed)Neither the kings of the earthnor the people of the lands ever thought that enemy or foe could enterthe gates of Jerusalem.13 מ (Mem)But it happened due to the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests,who poured out in her midstthe blood of the righteous.14 נ (Nun)They wander blindly through the streets,defiled by the blood they shed, while no one dares to touch their garments.15 ס (Samek)People cry to them, “Turn away! You are unclean!Turn away! Turn away! Don’t touch us!”So they have fled and wander about;but the nations say, “They may not stay here any longer.”16 פ (Pe)The LORD himself has scattered them;he no longer watches over them.They did not honor the priests; they did not show favor to the elders. 17 The People of Jerusalem Lamentע (Ayin)Our eyes continually failed usas we looked in vain for help. From our watchtowers we watchedfor a nation that could not rescue us.18 צ (Tsade)Our enemies hunted us down at every step so that we could not walk about in our streets.Our end drew near, our days were numbered, for our end had come!19 ק (Qof)Those who pursued us were swifterthan eagles in the sky. They chased us over the mountains;they ambushed us in the wilderness.20 ר (Resh)Our very life breath—the LORD’s anointed king —was caught in their traps, of whom we thought, “Under his protection we will survive among the nations.”21 The Prophet Speaksש (Sin/Shin)Rejoice and be glad for now, O people of Edom, who reside in the land of Uz.But the cup of judgment will pass to you also;you will get drunk and take off your clothes.22 ת (Tav)O people of Zion, your punishment will come to an end; he will not prolong your exile.But, O people of Edom, he will punish your sin and reveal your offenses!