8
Cheth Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets; their skin cleaves to their bones; it is withered; it is dry like a stick.
9
Teth Those slain with the sword are better than
those slain with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through for
want of the fruits of the earth.
10
Jod The hands of the compassionate women have cooked their own children; they were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11
Caph The LORD has accomplished his fury; he has poured out his fierce anger and has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has devoured the foundations thereof.
12
Lamed The kings of the earth and all the inhabitants of the world never believed that the adversary and the enemy would enter in through the gates of Jerusalem.
13
Mem 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,
14
Nun They have wandered blindly in the streets; they were polluted in blood, so that no one could touch their garments.
15
Samech They cried unto them, Depart ye;
it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not because they were contaminated; and
when they were thrust through, they said among the Gentiles, They shall never dwell here again.
16
Pe The anger of the LORD has separated them; he will never look upon them again. They did not respect the countenance of the priests, nor did they have compassion on the elders.
17
Ain As for us, our eyes have failed in seeking our vain help; in our watching we have watched for people
that cannot save
us.
18
Tzaddi They hunt our steps that we cannot walk in our streets; our end came near; our days were fulfilled; for our end is come.