ג (Gimel)
4:3 Even the jackals 1 nurse their young
at their breast, 2
but my people 3 are cruel,
like ostriches 4 in the desert.
ד (Dalet)
4:4 The infant’s tongue sticks
to the roof of its mouth due to thirst;
little children beg for bread, 5
but no one gives them even a morsel. 6
ה (He)
4:5 Those who once feasted on delicacies 7
are now starving to death 8 in the streets.
Those who grew up 9 wearing expensive clothes 10
are now dying 11 amid garbage. 12
ו (Vav)
4:6 The punishment 13 of my people 14
exceeded that of 15 of Sodom,
which was overthrown in a moment
with no one to help her. 16
ז (Zayin)
4:7 Her consecrated ones 17 were brighter than snow,
whiter than milk;
their bodies more ruddy than corals,
their hair 18 like lapis lazuli. 19
ח (Khet)
4:8 Now their appearance 20 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.
ט (Tet)
4:9 Those who died by the sword 21 are better off
than those who die of hunger, 22
those who 23 waste away, 24
struck down 25 from lack of 26 food. 27