^{1 Ref} How is the gold become dim, Changed the best -- the pure gold? Poured out are stones of the sanctuary At the head of all out-places.

^{2 Ref} The precious sons of Zion, Who are comparable with fine gold, How have they been reckoned earthen bottles, Work of the hands of a potter.

^{3 Ref} Even dragons have drawn out the breast, They have suckled their young ones, The daughter of my people is become cruel, Like the ostriches in a wilderness.

^{4 Ref} Cleaved hath the tongue of a suckling unto his palate with thirst, Infants asked bread, a dealer out they have none.

^{5 Ref} Those eating of dainties have been desolate in out-places, Those supported on scarlet have embraced dunghills.

^{6 Ref} And greater is the iniquity of the daughter of my people, Than the sin of Sodom, That was overturned as `in' a moment, And no hands were stayed on her.

^{7 Ref} Purer were her Nazarites than snow, Whiter than milk, ruddier of body than rubies, Of sapphire their form.

^{8 Ref} Darker than blackness hath been their visage, They have not been known in out-places, Cleaved hath their skin unto their bone, It hath withered -- it hath been as wood.

^{9 Ref} Better have been the pierced of a sword Than the pierced of famine, For these flow away, pierced through, Without the increase of the field.

^{10 Ref} The hands of merciful women have boiled their own children, They have been for food to them, In the destruction of the daughter of my people.

^{11 Ref} Completed hath Jehovah His fury, He hath poured out the fierceness of His anger, And he kindleth a fire in Zion, And it devoureth her foundations.

^{12 Ref} Believe not did the kings of earth, And any of the inhabitants of the world, That come would an adversary and enemy Into the gates of Jerusalem.

^{13 Ref} Because of the sins of her prophets, The iniquities of her priests, Who are shedding in her midst the blood of the righteous,