Read | Lamentations 4
א Aleph
How the gold has become tarnished,
the fine gold become dull!
The stones of the temple lie scattered
at the head of every street.
ב Beth
Zion’s precious children—
once worth their weight in pure gold—
how they are regarded as clay jars,
the work of a potter’s hands!
ג Gimel
Even jackals offer their breasts
to nurse their young,
but my dear people have become cruel
like ostriches in the wilderness.
ד Daleth
The nursing baby’s tongue
clings to the roof of his mouth from thirst.
Infants beg for food,
but no one gives them any.
ה He
Those who used to eat delicacies
are destitute in the streets;
those who were reared in purple garments
huddle in trash heaps.
ו Waw
The punishment of my dear people
is greater than that of Sodom,
which was overthrown in an instant
without a hand laid on it.
ז Zayin
Her dignitaries were brighter than snow,
whiter than milk;
their bodies were more ruddy than coral,
their appearance like lapis lazuli.
ח Cheth
Now they appear darker than soot;
they are not recognized in the streets.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones;
it has become dry like wood.
ט Teth
Those slain by the sword are better off
than those slain by hunger,
who waste away, pierced with pain
because the fields lack produce.
י Yod
The hands of compassionate women
have cooked their own children;
they became their food
during the destruction of my dear people.
כ Kaph
The LORD has exhausted his wrath,
poured out his burning anger;
he has ignited a fire in Zion,
and it has consumed her foundations.
ל Lamed
The kings of the earth
and all the world’s inhabitants did not believe
that an enemy or adversary
could enter Jerusalem’s gates.
מ Mem
Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets
and the iniquities of her priests,
who shed the blood of the righteous within her.
נ Nun
Blind, they stumbled in the streets,
defiled by this blood,
so that no one dared
to touch their garments.
ס Samek
“Stay away! Unclean!” people shouted at them.
“Away, away! Don’t touch us!”
So they wandered aimlessly.
It was said among the nations,
“They can stay here no longer.”
פ Pe
The LORD himself has scattered them;
he no longer watches over them.
The priests are not respected;
the elders find no favor.
ע Ayin
All the while our eyes were failing
as we looked in vain for help;
we watched from our towers
for a nation that would not save us.
צ Tsade
Our steps were closely followed
so that we could not walk in our streets.
Our end approached; our time ran out.
Our end had come!
ק Qoph
Those who chased us were swifter
than eagles in the sky;
they relentlessly pursued us over the mountains
and ambushed us in the wilderness.
ר Resh
The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life,
was captured in their traps.
We had said about him,
“We will live under his protection among the nations.”
שׂ Sin
So rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom,
you resident of the land of Uz!
Yet the cup will pass to you as well;
you will get drunk and expose yourself.
ת Taw
Daughter Zion, your punishment is complete;
he will not lengthen your exile.
But he will punish your iniquity, Daughter Edom,
and will expose your sins.
Click here to listen to the Scripture in ESV.
When you honestly examine your actions, what destructive, real-world consequences of your own sin are you currently trying to ignore or minimize?
In your spheres of influence, do your actions point others toward God’s righteousness, or do they contribute to their spiritual stumbling?
Focus
Reflect on your actions this week:
Identify one daily “comfort” you reflexively turn to when you are stressed, bored, or avoiding something (e.g., social media, a specific snack, television, online shopping). Commit to fasting from this specific comfort during a certain time period this week. Every time you crave it, use that as a trigger to confess your reliance on earthly comforts and repent of avoiding God.
Pray
Lord, I confess that I cling to my own comforts when you are calling me to yourself. Forgive me for ignoring your invitation to the with God life. Help me see and examine the specific ways I avoid your presence, and give me the courage to move toward you. Amen.
Going Deeper
If you are also following the BibleProject’s One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan, complete today’s reading.
