Read Lamentations 4 of the KJV to discover the profound insights it holds for us on this blessed day. For more verses, check out the Book of Lamentations.
The Distress of Zion
א
1. How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
ב
2. The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
ג
3. Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
ד
4. The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.
ה
5. They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
ו
6. For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of 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.
ז
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:
ח
8. Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.
ט
9. They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.
י
10. The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
כ
11. The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.
ל
12. The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.
מ
13. For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,
נ
14. They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.
ס
15. They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there.
פ
16. The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.
ע
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.
צ
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.
ק
19. Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
ר
20. The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.
ש
21. Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.
ת
22. The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.
See Also: What Sins Did David Commit?