Lamentations 4
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1How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The holy stones lie scattered at the head of every street.1How the gold has become tarnished, the fine gold become dull! The stones of the temple lie scattered at the head of every street.
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!2Zion’s precious children --once worth their weight in pure gold --how they are regarded as clay jars, the work of a potter’s hands!
3Even jackals offer the breast; they nurse their young; but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.3Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my dear people have become cruel like ostriches in the wilderness.
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.4The nursing baby’s tongue clings to the roof of his mouth from thirst. Infants beg for food, but no one gives them any.
5Those who once feasted on delicacies perish in the streets; those who were brought up in purple embrace ash heaps.5Those who used to eat delicacies are destitute in the streets; those who were reared in purple garments huddle in trash heaps.
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.6The punishment of my dear people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand laid on it.
7Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, the beauty of their form was like sapphire.7Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, their appearance like lapis lazuli.
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.8Now 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.
9Happier were the victims of the sword than the victims of hunger, who wasted away, pierced by lack of the fruits of the field.9Those slain by the sword are better off than those slain by hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.
10The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their food during the destruction of the daughter of my people.10The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children; they became their food during the destruction of my dear people.
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.11The LORD has exhausted his wrath, poured out his burning anger; he has ignited a fire in Zion, and it has consumed her foundations.
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.12The kings of the earth and all the world’s inhabitants did not believe that an enemy or adversary could enter Jerusalem’s gates.
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.13Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous within her.
14They wandered, blind, through the streets; they were so defiled with blood that no one was able to touch their garments.14Blind, they stumbled in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.
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.”15“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.”
16The LORD himself has scattered them; he will regard them no more; no honor was shown to the priests, no favor to the elders.16The LORD himself has scattered them; he no longer watches over them. The priests are not respected; the elders find no favor.
17Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; in our watching we watched for a nation which could not save.17All 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.
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.18Our steps were closely followed so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end approached; our time ran out. Our end had come!
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.19Those who chased us were swifter than eagles in the sky; they relentlessly pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.
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.”20The 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.”
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.21So 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.
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.22Daughter Zion, your punishment is complete; he will not lengthen your exile. But he will punish your iniquity, Daughter Edom, and will expose your sins.
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.The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Lamentations 3
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