Lamentations 4
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1How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.1How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The holy stones lie scattered at the head of every street.
2How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!2The precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold, how they are regarded as earthen pots, the work of a potter’s hands!
3Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like an ostrich in the wilderness.3Even jackals offer the breast; they nurse their young; but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.4The tongue of the nursing infant sticks to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food, but no one gives to them.
5Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.5Those who once feasted on delicacies perish in the streets; those who were brought up in purple embrace ash heaps.
6The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.6For the chastisement of the daughter of my people has been greater than the punishment of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and no hands were wrung for her.
7Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.7Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, the beauty of their form was like sapphire.
8But now their appearance is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.8Now their face 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.
9Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.9Happier were the victims of the sword than the victims of hunger, who wasted away, pierced by lack of the fruits of the field.
10The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.10The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their food during the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11The LORD has exhausted His wrath; He has poured out His fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has consumed her foundations.11The LORD gave full vent to his wrath; he poured out his hot anger, and he kindled a fire in Zion that consumed its foundations.
12The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any people of the world, that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.12The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
13But this was for the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in her midst.13This was for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed in the midst of her the blood of the righteous.
14They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.14They wandered, blind, through the streets; they were so defiled with blood that no one was able to touch their garments.
15“Go away! Unclean!” men shouted at them. “Away, away! Do not touch us!” So they fled and wandered. Among the nations it was said, “They can stay here no longer.”15“Away! Unclean!” people cried at them. “Away! Away! Do not touch!” So they became fugitives and wanderers; people said among the nations, “They shall stay with us no longer.”
16The presence of the LORD has scattered them; He regards them no more. The priests are shown no honor; the elders find no favor.16The LORD himself has scattered them; he will regard them no more; no honor was shown to the priests, no favor to the elders.
17All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us.17Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; in our watching we watched for a nation which could not save.
18They stalked our every step, so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near, our time ran out, for our end had come!18They dogged our steps so that we could not walk in our streets; our end drew near; our days were numbered, for our end had come.
19Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.19Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles in the heavens; they chased us on the mountains; they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
20The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”20The breath of our nostrils, the LORD’s anointed, was captured in their pits, of whom we said, “Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.”
21So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself.21Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz; but to you also the cup shall pass; you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare.
22O Daughter of Zion, your punishment is complete; He will not prolong your exile. But He will punish your iniquity, O Daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins.22The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter of Zion, is accomplished; he will keep you in exile no longer; but your iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he will punish; he will uncover your sins.
The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved.ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.
Lamentations 3
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