1 C OMO se ha oscurecido el oro! ­Cómo el buen oro se ha demudado! Las piedras del santuario están esparcidas por las encrucijadas de todas las calles.

How the gold has become dim! How the most pure gold has changed! The hallowed stones are poured out at the head of every street.

2 L os hijos de Sión, preciados y estimados más que el oro puro, ­Cómo son tenidos por vasos de barro, obra de manos de alfarero!

The noble and precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold—how they are esteemed as earthen pots or pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

3 A un los monstruos marinos sacan la teta, dan de mamar a sus chiquitos: La hija de mi pueblo es cruel, como los avestruces en el desierto.

Even the jackals draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones, but the daughter of my people has become cruel like ostriches in the wilderness.

4 L a lengua del niño de teta, de sed se pegó á su paladar: Los chiquitos pidieron pan, y no hubo quien se lo partiese.

The tongue of the nursing babe cleaves to the roof of its mouth because of thirst; the young children beg for food, but no one gives it to them.

5 L os que comían delicadamente, asolados fueron en las calles; Los que se criaron en carmesí, abrazaron los estercoleros.

Those who feasted on dainties are perishing in the streets; those who were brought up in purple lie cleaving to refuse and ash heaps.

6 Y aumentóse la iniquidad de la hija de mi pueblo más que el pecado de Sodoma, Que fué trastornada en un momento, y no asentaron sobre ella compañías.

For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and no hands had come against her or been laid on her.

7 S us Nazareos fueron blancos más que la nieve, más lustrosos que la leche. Su compostura más rubicunda que los rubíes, más bellos que el zafiro:

her princes were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; they were more ruddy in body than rubies or corals, their shapely figures sapphire.

8 O scura más que la negrura es la forma de ellos; no los conocen por las calles: Su piel está pegada á sus huesos, seca como un palo.

them look blacker than soot and darkness; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin clings to their bones; it is withered and it has become like a stick.

9 M ás dichosos fueron los muertos á cuchillo que los muertos del hambre; Porque éstos murieron poco á poco por falta de los frutos de la tierra.

Those who are slain with the sword are more fortunate than those who are the victims of hunger; for they pine and ebb away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.

10 L as manos de las mujeres piadosas cocieron á sus hijos; Fuéronles comida en el quebrantamiento de la hija de mi pueblo.

The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they were their food during the destruction of the daughter of my people.

11 C umplió Jehová su enojo, derramó el ardor de su ira; Y encendió fuego en Sión, que consumió sus fundamentos.

The Lord has fulfilled His wrath; He has poured out His fierce anger and has kindled a fire in Zion that has consumed her foundations.

12 N unca los reyes de la tierra, ni todos los que habitan en el mundo, Creyeron que el enemigo y el adversario entrara por las puertas de Jerusalem.

The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the inhabitants of the earth, that the oppressor and enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem.

13 E s por los pecados de sus profetas, por las maldades de sus sacerdotes, Que derramaron en medio de ella la sangre de los justos.

because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed the blood of the just and righteous in the midst of her.

14 T itubearon como ciegos en las calles, fueron contaminados en sangre, De modo que no pudiesen tocar á sus vestiduras.

wandered in the streets as if blind; they had so polluted themselves with blood it was not for men to touch their garments.

15 A partaos ­inmundos!, les gritaban, Apartaos, apartaos, no toquéis. Cuando huyeron y fueron dispersos, dijeron entre las gentes: Nunca más morarán aquí

cried to them, Go away! Unclean! Depart! Depart! Touch not! When they fled away, then they wandered; men said among the nations, They shall not stay here any longer.

16 L a ira de Jehová los apartó, no los mirará más: No respetaron la faz de los sacerdotes, ni tuvieron compasión de los viejos.

The anger of the Lord has scattered; He will no longer look after them. They did not respect the persons of the priests; they did not favor the elders.

17 A un nos han desfallecido nuestros ojos tras nuestro vano socorro: En nuestra esperanza aguardamos gente que no puede salvar.

As for us, our eyes yet failed and wasted away in looking for our worthless help. In our watching we have watched and waited expectantly for a nation that could not save us.

18 C azaron nuestro pasos, que no anduviésemos por nuestras calles: Acercóse nuestro fin, cumpliéronse nuestros días; porque nuestro fin vino.

dog our steps, so that we cannot go into our streets; our end is near, our days are fulfilled—yes, our end has come.

19 L igeros fueron nuestros perseguidores más que las águilas del cielo: Sobre los montes nos persiguieron, en el desierto nos pusieron emboscada.

Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky; they pursued us on the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.

20 E l resuello de nuestras narices, el ungido de Jehová, De quien habíamos dicho: A su sombra tendremos vida entre las gentes: fué preso en sus hoyos.

The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was taken in their snares—he of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.

21 G ózate y alégrate, hija de Edom, la que habitas en tierra de Hus: Aun hasta ti pasará el cáliz; embriagarte has, y vomitarás.

Rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. But the cup also shall pass to you; you shall become drunk and make yourself naked.

22 C umplido es tu castigo, oh hija de Sión: Nunca más te hará trasportar. Visitará tu iniquidad, oh hija de Edom; Descubrirá tus pecados.

The punishment of your iniquity will be accomplished and completed, O Daughter of Zion; will no more carry you away or keep you in exile. But He will inspect and punish your iniquity and guilt, O Daughter of Edom; He will uncover your sins.