Lamentations 4
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New American Standard Bible 1995English Standard Version
1How dark the gold has become, How the pure gold has changed! The sacred stones are poured out At the corner of every street.1How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The holy stones lie scattered at the head of every street.
2The precious sons of Zion, Weighed against fine gold, How they are regarded as earthen jars, 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 the breast, They nurse their young; But the daughter of my people has become cruel Like ostriches 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 tongue of the infant cleaves To the roof of its mouth because of thirst; The little ones ask for bread, But no one breaks it for them.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 ate delicacies Are desolate in the streets; Those reared in purple Embrace ash pits.5Those who once feasted on delicacies perish in the streets; those who were brought up in purple embrace ash heaps.
6For the iniquity of the daughter of my people Is greater than the sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown as in a moment, And no hands were turned toward 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 consecrated ones were purer than snow, They were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than corals, Their polishing was like lapis lazuli.7Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, the beauty of their form was like sapphire.
8Their appearance is blacker than soot, They are not recognized in the streets; Their skin is shriveled on their bones, It is withered, it has become like wood.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.
9Better are those slain with the sword Than those slain with hunger; For they pine away, being stricken For lack of the fruits of the field.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 Boiled their own children; They became food for them Because of 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 accomplished His wrath, He has poured out His fierce anger; And He has kindled a fire in Zion Which has consumed its 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 did any of the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy 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.
13Because of the sins of her prophets And the iniquities of her priests, Who have shed in her midst The blood of the righteous;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; They were defiled with blood So that no one could 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"Depart! Unclean!" they cried of themselves. "Depart, depart, do not touch!" So they fled and wandered; Men among the nations said, "They shall not continue to dwell with us."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 will not continue to regard them; They did not honor the priests, They did not favor the elders.16The LORD himself has scattered them; he will regard them no more; no honor was shown to the priests, no favor to the elders.
17Yet our eyes failed, Looking for help was useless; In our watching we have watched For a nation that could not save.17Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; in our watching we watched for a nation which could not save.
18They hunted our steps So that we could not walk in our streets; Our end drew near, Our days were finished 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.
19Our pursuers were swifter Than the eagles of the sky; They chased us on the mountains, They waited in ambush for 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 breath of our nostrils, the LORD'S anointed, Was captured in their pits, Of whom we had said, "Under his shadow We shall 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.”
21Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, Who dwells in the land of Uz; But the cup will come around to you as well, You will become drunk and make yourself naked.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.
22The punishment of your iniquity has been completed, O daughter of Zion; He will exile you no longer. 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.
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.orgESV 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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