Zayin
“The princes of Jerusalem
Were purer
Than snow.
They were whiter
Than milk.
Their bodies were
More ruddy
Than coral.
Their hair was
Like sapphire.”
This author paints a glowing picture of the princes of Jerusalem. They were purer than snow and whiter than milk. They had a ruddy coral like body. Their hair was like a sapphire jewel. These were good looking dudes. This verse starts with the Hebrew consonant letter Zayin in this acrostic poem.
Zayin
“The thought
Of my affliction
Is wormwood!
The thought
Of my homelessness,
Is gall!
My soul continually
Thinks of it.
My soul is
Bowed down
Within me.
But this I call to mind.
Therefore I have hope.”
This author complained about his bitter thoughts. His affliction was like the sour bitter wormwood plant. His homelessness annoyed or galled him. This is like the prayer of a homeless person. His soul was continually sinking. However, when he thought this out, he still had some hope. These three verses start with the Hebrew consonant letter Zayin in this acrostic poem.
Zayin
“Yahweh has scorned
His altar.
He has disowned
His sanctuary.
He has delivered
The walls
Of her palaces
Into the hand
Of the enemy.
A clamor was raised
In the house
Of Yahweh
As on a day
Of festival.”
Yahweh has scorned his own altar in the Temple at Jerusalem. He has disowned his own sanctuary. The enemies have taken over the palaces and its walls. There are now clamorous battle cries in the house of Yahweh, as if it was a festival day, but without anyone there. The house of Yahweh has been destroyed. This verse starts with the Hebrew consonant letter Zayin. Each verse after this will use the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet in this acrostic poem.
Zayin
“Jerusalem remembers
In the days
Of her affliction,
In the days
Of her wandering,
All the precious things
That were hers
In the days of old.
When her people fell
Into the hand
Of the foe,
There was no one
To help her.
The foe looked on,
Mocking over
Her downfall.”
Jerusalem remembered what happened. There were the days of affliction and wandering. She had many precious things in the good old days. However, her people fell into the hands of their foe. No one was there to help them as her enemies mocked her over her downfall. This verse starts with the Hebrew consonant letter Zayin. Each verse after this will use the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet in this acrostic poem.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 