Common English Bible CEB
New International Version NIV
1 Oh, no! Gold is tarnished; even the purest gold is changed. Sacred jewels are scattered on every street corner.
1
How the gold has lost its luster, the fine gold become dull! The sacred gems are scattered at every street corner.
2 Zion's precious children, once valued as pure gold— oh no!—now they are worth no more than clay pots made by a potter.
2
How the precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, are now considered as pots of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!
3 Even jackals offer the breast; they nurse their young. But the daughter of my people has become cruel, like desert ostriches.
3
Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my people have become heartless like ostriches in the desert.
4 The baby's tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth, thirsty. Children ask for bread, beg for it—but there is no bread.
4
Because of thirst the infant’s tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth; the children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them.
5 Those who once ate gourmet food now tremble in the streets. Those who wore the finest purple clothes now cling to piles of garbage.
5
Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets. Those brought up in royal purple now lie on ash heaps.
6 Greater was the punishment of the daughter of my people than Sodom's penalty, which was quickly overthrown without any hand-wringing.
6
The punishment of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment without a hand turned to help her.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
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.