New Revised Standard NRS
New International Version NIV
9 Happier were those pierced by the sword than those pierced by hunger, whose life drains away, deprived of the produce of the field.
9
Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of famine; racked with hunger, they waste away for lack of food from the field.
10 The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their food in the destruction of my people.
10
With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyed.
11 The Lord gave full vent to his wrath; he poured out his hot anger, and kindled a fire in Zion that consumed its foundations.
11
The LORD has given full vent to his wrath; he has poured out his fierce anger. He kindled a fire in Zion that consumed her foundations.
12 The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
12
The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the peoples of the world, that enemies and foes could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
13 It was for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in the midst of her.
13
But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous.
14 Blindly they wandered through the streets, so defiled with blood that no one was able to touch their garments.
14
Now they grope through the streets as if they were blind. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments.
15 "Away! Unclean!" people shouted at them; "Away! Away! Do not touch!" So they became fugitives and wanderers; it was said among the nations, "They shall stay here no longer."
15
“Go away! You are unclean!” people cry to them. “Away! Away! Don’t touch us!” When they flee and wander about, people among the nations say, “They can stay here no longer.”
16 The Lord himself has scattered them, he will regard them no more; no honor was shown to the priests, no favor to the elders.
16
The LORD himself has scattered them; he no longer watches over them. The priests are shown no honor, the elders no favor.
17 Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; we were watching eagerly for a nation that could not save.
17
Moreover, our eyes failed, looking in vain for help; from our towers we watched for a nation that could not save us.
18 They dogged our steps so that we could not walk in our streets; our end drew near; our days were numbered; for our end had come.
18
People stalked us at every step, so we could not walk in our streets. Our end was near, our days were numbered, for our end had come.
19 Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles in the heavens; they chased us on the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
19
Our pursuers were swifter than eagles in the sky; they chased us over the mountains and lay in wait for us in the desert.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.