Lamentations (Eikha)

13. cross Jerusalem's gates. For the sins of her prophets, the offences of her priests, 14 who within her midst pour out the blood of righteous people. The blind shift through the streets, disgusting with blood; no one could possibly touch those 1s_ clothes. “Keep away, impure,” they cry out to them, “away, away, do not touch.” Floating, shifting away. 16 Itis said among the nations, “They may stop no longer here. It is the Lorp’s face that divides them; He shall look on them no more.’ They bore priests no honor, 17 and elders no mercy. As for us, our eyes still watch for our mirage of assistance. 18 In our wistfulness we wait for a nation that does not save. They stalked our very steps; stopped us walking across our squares. Our end comes close, the fullness 19 of our day, our end is come. Our pursuers came swifter than eagles of the sky. 20 They spied us from the mountains, in the desert they set ambush. The breath of our mouths, the Lorn’s anointed, was caught up in our slaughter; the one whose shade we said we would live in among nations. 21 Rejoice, be merry, daughter Edom, sitting there in the Land of Utz. The cup 22 will come to you in turn; you will get drunk, and be laid bare. Your offences are done with, daughter Zion, He will exile you no further. Your offences are noted, daughter Edom. Your sins have been exposed. 51 Remember, Lorn, what has come to us. Look on, witness our abjection; our 3 inheritance turned over to strangers, and our homes to foreign men. We are 4 orphans now, fatherless, our mothers like widows. We pay to drink our water; S$ our wood comes at a price. At our throats they chase us, we labor, they give no § respite. We put out a hand to Egypt, to Assyria, for bread. Our fathers sinned - 8 they are not; we bear their offences. Slaves now rule over us; none will tear us 9 from their hands. We lay down our souls for bread before the sword of desert- 10 Jands. Our skin burns like an oven with the fevers of starvation. They raped 12, women in Zion - virgin girls in the towns of Judah. Princes were hung up by 13. their hands, no regard was shown to elders. Young men bear the millstone, boys 14 stumble under loads of wood. No more elders at the gates, or young men lost 16 in song. No more delight in our hearts; our dance has turned to mourning. The crown of our heads is fallen. Hear, please, our anguish: we have sinned. 17 For these things our hearts are ailing; for this our eyes grow dark. For Mount 19 Zion, desolate - foxes wander there. You, LORD, rule forever - Your throne over 20 all generations. Why would You forever forget us, desert us, as long as there are 21 days? Bring us back to You, Lor», and we will come. Renew our days, to be as 22. they once were; even if You leave and loathe us, and rage against us with great passion. Bring us back to You, Lorn, and we will come. Renew our days, to be as they once were.