² The precious sons of Zion
    weighed against fine gold,
how they are thought of as earthen vessels of clay,
    the work of the potter’s hands.
³ Even the jackal bears the beast
    and nurses their cubs;
but the daughter of my people has become ruthless,
    like ostriches in the wilderness.
⁴ The tongue of the nursling cleaves
    to its palate in thirst.
Children beg for food,
    no one lays it out before them.^[a]