5 Megilot
Scrolls
4:1
How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most fine gold
changed! the stones of the mikdash are poured out in the top
of every street.
4:2
The precious sons of Tzyon, comparable to fine gold, how are
they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the
potter!
4:3
Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to
their young ones: the bat My people [is become] cruel,
like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4:4
The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of his
mouth for thirst: the young children ask lechem, [and] no man
breaks [it] to them.
4:5
They that did feed delicately are shamem (desolate) in the streets:
they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
4:6
For the punishment of the iniquity of the bat my
people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that
was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.
4:7
Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than
milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing
[was] of sapphire:
4:8
Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in
the streets: their skin cleaves to their etsem (bones); it is
withered, it is become like a stick.
4:9
[They that be] slain with the cherev are better than [they
that be] slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken
through for [want of] the fruits of the field.
4:10
The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own
children: they were their okel (food) in the destruction of the
bat my people.
4:11
ADONAI (יהוה) has accomplished his fury; he has poured out his
fierce anger, and has kindled a fire in Tzyon, and it has
devoured the foundations thereof.
4:12
The kings of the land, and all the inhabitants of the
world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy
should have entered into the she'arim (gates) of Yerushalayim (ירוּשׁלם).
4:13
For the sins of her Neviim, [and] the iniquities of her
kohenim, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of
her,
4:14
They have wandered [as] blind [men] in the streets, they
have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not
touch their garments.
4:15
They cried to them, Depart you; [it is] unclean; depart,
depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said
among the nations, They shall no more sojourn [there].
4:16
The anger of ADONAI (יהוה) has divided them; he will no more
regard them: they respected not the persons of the kohenim,
they favoured not the zekenim.
4:17
As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our
watching we have watched for a nation [that] could not save
[us].
4:18
They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our
end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
4:19
Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the shamayim:
they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in
the wilderness.
4:20
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of ADONAI (יהוה), was
taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall
live among the nations.
4:21
Rejoice and be glad, O bat Edom, that dwells in
the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through to you: you
shall be drunken, and shall make yourself naked.
4:22
The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, O
bat Tzyon; he will no more carry you away into
Golus (Exile): he will visit your iniquity, O bat Edom; he
will discover your sins.
