1 ALEPH. How will the gold be tarnished, and the fine silver changed! the sacred stones have been poured forth at the top of all the streets. 2 BETH. The precious sons of Zion, who were equaled in value with gold, how are they counted as earthen vessels, the works of the hands of the potter! 3 GIMEL. Even dragons have drawn out the breasts, they give suck to their young, the daughters of my people are incurably cruel, as a sparrow in a desert.⁠a 4 DALETH. The tongue of the sucking child clings to the roof of its mouth for thirst: the little children ask for bread, and there is none to break it to them. 5 HE. They that feed on dainties are desolate in the streets: they that used to be nursed in scarlet have clothed themselves with dung. 6 VAU. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people has been increased beyond the iniquities of Sodom, the city that was overthrown very suddenly, and none labored against her with their hands. 7 ZAIN. Her Nazarites were made purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were purified as with fire, their polishing was superior to sapphire stone. 8 HETH. Their face has become blacker than smoke; they are not known in the streets: their skin has clung to their bones; they are withered, they have become as a stick. 9 TETH. Those killed with the sword were better than those who were killed by hunger: they have departed, pierced through from lack of the fruits of the field. 10 JOD. The hands of tender-hearted women have boiled their own children: they became food for them in the destruction of the daughter of my people. 11 CHAPH. The Lord has accomplished his fierce anger; he has poured out fierce anger, and has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has devoured her foundations. 12 LAMED. The kings of the earth, even all that dwell in the world, did not believe that an enemy and oppressor would enter through the gates of Jerusalem. 13 MEM. For the sins of her prophets, and iniquities of her priests, who shed righteous blood in the midst of her, 14 NUN. her watchmen staggered in the streets, they were defiled with blood in their weakness, they touched their clothing with it. 15 SAMECH. Depart from the unclean ones: call them: depart, depart, do not touch them: for they are on fire, yes, they stagger: say among the nations, They shall no more stay there. 16 AIN. The presence of the Lord was their portion; but he will not again look upon them: they did not regard the person of the priests, they did not pity the elders. 17 PHE. While we yet lived our eyes failed, while we looked in vain for our help. TSADE. We looked to a nation that could not save. 18 We have hunted for our little ones, that they should not walk in our streets. KOPH. Our time has drawn near, our days are fulfilled, our time has come. 19 Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky, they flew on the mountains, in the wilderness they laid wait for us. 20 RECHS. The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was taken in their destructive snares,⁠b of whom we said, In his shadow we shall live among the Gentiles. 21 CHSEN. Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Idumea, that dwell in the land: yet the cup of the Lord shall pass through to you: you shall be drunk, and pour forth. 22 THAU. daughter of Zion, your iniquity has come to an end; he shall no more carry you captive: he has visited your iniquities, daughter of Edom; he has revealed your sins.