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 dark the gold has become! How the pure gold has changed! The stones from the house of God are poured out at the corner 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 sons of Zion are worth their weight in fine gold. But they are thought of as clay pots, the work of a pot-maker’s hands!

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 wild dogs give their breast to feed their young, but my people show no pity. They are like ostriches in the desert.

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 baby’s tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth because of thirst. The children beg for bread, 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 ate fine foods are dying in the streets. Those who were brought up dressed in purple now lie in ashes.

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 sin of the daughter of my people is worse than the sin of Sodom, which was destroyed all at once without a hand turned to help 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 religious leaders were more pure than snow. They were more white than milk. Their bodies were more red than coral. They were more beautiful than 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.

Now they look more black than dark ashes. No one knows who they are in the streets. Their skin has dried up on their bones. It has become as dry as wood.

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 killed with the sword are better off than those killed with hunger. For they waste away, suffering because they have no 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.

Women who had shown loving-kindness have boiled their own children for food, because my people are destroyed.

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

The Lord has acted in His anger. He has poured out His burning anger, and has set a fire in Zion which has burned it to the ground.

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 and all the people of the world did not believe that those who hated them could come into 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.

This was because of the sins of her men who spoke in God’s name, and the sins of her religious leaders, who killed those within her who were right and good.

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

They walked as blind men through the streets. They were made unclean with blood so that no one could touch their clothing.

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

People cried to them, “Go away! You are unclean! Leave! Go away! Do not touch!” So they ran away and traveled from place to place. Men among the nations said, “They must not stay with us 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 Lord Himself has sent them everywhere. He will not care about them any more. They did not honor the religious leaders or favor the leaders of the people.

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

Our eyes have become weak in looking for help that did not come. In our watching we have waited for a nation that was not able to save us.

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

They kept following after our steps so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end came near. Our days were finished, for our end had come.

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

Those who came after us were faster than the eagles of the sky. They came after us on the mountains. They hid and waited for us in the desert.

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 Lord’s chosen one, our very breath, was caught in their traps. We had said about him, “Under his shadow we will 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.

Be filled with joy and be glad, O people of Edom, who live in the land of Uz. But the cup will be passed to you also. You will become drunk and your shame will be seen.

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 sin is completed, O people of Zion. The Lord will not keep you away any longer. But He will punish your sin, Edom. He will let your sins be seen!