How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #7
Those who feasted on delicacies perish in the streets; those who were brought up in purple cling to ash heaps. For the chastisement of my people has been greater than the punishment of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, though no hand was laid on it. Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, their hair like sapphire. Now their visage is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as wood. Happier were those pierced by the sword than those pierced by hunger, whose life drains away, deprived of the produce of the field. (NRSV 4:5-9)
They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire: Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick. They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field. (KJV 4:5-9)
Here we get a glimpse of what Jerusalem was like before it was leveled. The people had it good; sounds like they were pampered. So it was a long way down. You know you've got it bad when you're compared unfavorably to Sodom. When you're miserable, it's torture to think about how good things used to be.
Quote #8
Happier were those pierced by the sword than those pierced by hunger, whose life drains away, deprived of the produce of the field. (NRSV 4:9)
They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field. (KJV 4:9)
Do you agree with the Poet that it's better to die quickly? When you're better off dead, things are pretty bad.
Quote #9
We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness. Our skin is black as an oven from the scorching heat of famine. Women are raped in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah. Princes are hung up by their hands; no respect is shown to the elders. Young men are compelled to grind, and boys stagger under loads of wood. (NRSV 5:9-13)
We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness. Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine. They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah. Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured. They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood. (KJV 5:9-13)
The people are turned into slaves and tortured. Unfortunately, this passage sounds like it could be right out of the NBC Nightly News. Famine, enslavement, mass rape and murder are the M.O. of a lot of crazy invaders these days.