Lamentations Chapter 4
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
All that pass by clap their hands at thee;
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They hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem,
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saying,
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Is this the city that men called The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
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All thine enemies have opened their mouth wide against thee;
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They hiss and gnash the teeth; they say, We have swallowed her up;
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Certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.
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Jehovah hath done that which he purposed; he hath fulfilled his word that he commanded in the days of old;
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He hath thrown down, and hath not pitied:
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And he hath caused the enemy to rejoice over thee; he hath exalted the horn of thine adversaries.
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Their heart cried unto the Lord:
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O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night;
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Give thyself no respite; let not the apple of thine eye cease.
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Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches;
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Pour out thy heart like water before the face of the Lord:
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Lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger at the head of every street.
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See, O Jehovah, and behold to whom thou hast done thus!
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Shall the women eat their fruit, the children that are dandled in the hands?
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Shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?
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The youth and the old man lie on the ground in the streets;
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My virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword:
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Thou hast slain them in the day of thine anger; thou hast slaughtered,
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
How is the gold become dim! the most pure gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary poured out at the top of all the streets!
2
The sons of Zion, so precious, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3
Even the jackals offer the breast, they give suck to their young; the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst; the young children ask bread, no man breaketh it unto them.
5
They that fed delicately are desolate in the streets; they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dung-hills.
6
And the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the reward of the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were violently laid upon her.
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Her Nazarites were purer than snow, whiter than milk; they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their figure was as sapphire.
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Their visage is darker than blackness, they are not known in the streets; their skin cleaveth to their bones, it is withered, it is become like a stick.
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The slain with the sword are happier than the slain with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.
10
The hands of pitiful women have boiled their own children: they were their meat in the ruin of the daughter of my people.
11
Jehovah hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath consumed the foundations thereof.
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The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should enter into the gates of Jerusalem.
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[It is] for the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, who have shed the blood of the righteous in the midst of her.
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They wandered about blind in the streets; they were polluted with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.
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They cried unto them, Depart! Unclean! Depart! depart, touch not! When they fled away, and wandered about, it was said among the nations, They shall no more sojourn [there].
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The face of Jehovah hath divided them; he will no more regard them. They respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the aged.
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Our eyes still failed for our vain help; in our watching, we have watched for a nation that did not save.
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They hunted our steps, that we could not go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
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Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens; they chased us hotly upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
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The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jehovah, was taken in their pits; of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.
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Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz: the cup shall pass also unto thee; thou shalt be drunken, and make thyself naked.
22
The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity. He will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
Aleph. How will the gold be tarnished, [and] the fine silver changed! the sacred stones have been poured forth at the top of all the streets.
2
Beth. The precious sons of Zion, who were equalled in value with gold, how are they counted as earthen vessels, the works of the hands of the potter!
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Gimel. Nay, serpents have drawn out the breasts, they give suck to their young, the daughters of my people are incurably cruel, as an ostrich in a desert.
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Daleth. The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of its mouth for thirst: the little children ask for bread, [and] there is none to break [it] to them.
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He. They that feed on dainties are desolate in the streets: they that used to be nursed in scarlet have clothed themselves with dung.
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Vau. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people has been increased beyond the iniquities of Sodoma, [the city] that was overthrown very suddenly, and none laboured against her [with their] hands.
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Zain. Her Nazarites were made purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were purified [as] with fire, their polishing was superior to sapphire stone.
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Heth. Their countenance is become blacker than smoke; they are not known in the streets: their skin has cleaved to their bones; they are withered, they are become as a stick.
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Teth. The slain with the sword were better than they that were slain with hunger: they have departed, pierced through from [want of] the fruits of the field.
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Jod. The hands of tender-hearted women have sodden their own children: they became meat for them in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
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Chaph. The Lord has accomplished his wrath; he has poured out his fierce anger, and has kindled a fire in Sion, and it has devoured her foundations.
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Lamed. The kings of the earth, [even] all that dwell in the world, believed not that an enemy and oppressor would enter through the gates of Jerusalem.
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Mem. For the sins of her prophets, [and] iniquities of her priests, who shed righteous blood in the midst of her,
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Nun. her watchmen staggered in the streets, they were defiled with blood in their weakness, they touched their raiment [with it].
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Samech. Depart ye from the unclean ones: call ye them: depart, depart, touch [them] not: for they are on fire, yea, they stagger: say ye among the nations, They shall no more sojourn [there].
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Ain. The presence of the Lord [was] their portion; [but] he will not again look upon them: they regarded not the person of the priests, they pitied not the prophets.
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Phe. While we yet lived our eyes failed, while we looked in vain for our help. Tsade. We looked to a nation that could not save.
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We have hunted [for] our little ones, that they should not walk in our streets. Koph. Our time has drawn nigh, our days are fulfilled, our time is come.
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Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky, they flew on the mountains, in the wilderness they laid wait for us.
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Rechs. The breath of our nostrils, [our] anointed Lord, was taken in their destructive snares, of whom we said, In his shadow we shall live among the Gentiles.
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Chsen. Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Idumea, that dwellest in the land: yet the cup of the Lord shall pass through to thee: thou shalt be drunken, and pour forth.
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Thau. O daughter of Sion, thine iniquity has come to an end; he shall no more carry thee captive: he has visited thine iniquities, O daughter of Edom; he has discovered thy sins.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
ALEPH. Quomodo obscuratum est aurum, mutatus est color optimus, dispersi sunt lapides sanctuarii in capite omnium platearum?
2
BETH. Filii Sion inclyti, et amicti auro primo: quomodo reputati sunt in vasa testea, opus manuum figuli?
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GHIMEL. Sed et lamiæ nudaverunt mammam, lactaverunt catulos suos: filia populi mei crudelis, quasi struthio in deserto.
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DALETH. Adhæsit lingua lactentis ad palatum eius in siti: parvuli petierunt panem, et non erat qui frangeret eis.
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HE. Qui vescebantur voluptuose, interierunt in viis: qui nutriebantur in croceis, amplexati sunt stercora.
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VAU. Et maior effecta est iniquitas filiæ populi mei peccato Sodomorum, quæ subversa est in momento, et non ceperunt in ea manus.
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ZAIN. Candidiores Nazaræi eius nive, nitidiores lacte, rubicundiores ebore antiquo, sapphiro pulchriores.
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HETH. Denigrata est super carbones facies eorum, et non sunt cogniti in plateis: adhæsit cutis eorum ossibus: aruit, et facta est quasi lignum.
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TETH. Melius fuit occisis gladio, quam interfectis fame: quoniam isti extabuerunt consumpti a sterilitate terræ.
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IOD. Manus mulierum misericordium coxerunt filios suos: facti sunt cibus earum in contritione filiæ populi mei.
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CAPH. Complevit Dominus furorem suum, effudit iram indignationis suæ: et succendit ignem in Sion, et devoravit fundamenta eius.
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LAMED. Non crediderunt reges terræ, et universi habitatores orbis, quoniam ingrederetur hostis et inimicus per portas Ierusalem:
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MEM. Propter peccata prophetarum eius, et iniquitates sacerdotum eius, qui effuderunt in medio eius sanguinem iustorum.
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NUN. Erraverunt cæci in plateis, polluti sunt in sanguine: cumque non possent, tenuerunt lacinias suas.
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SAMECH. Recedite polluti, clamaverunt eis: recedite, abite, nolite tangere: iurgati quippe sunt, et commoti dixerunt inter Gentes: Non addet ultra ut habitet in eis.
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PHE. Facies Domini divisit eos, non addet ut respiciat eos: facies sacerdotum non erubuerunt, neque senum miserti sunt.
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AIN. Cum adhuc subsisteremus, defecerunt oculi nostri ad auxilium nostrum vanum, cum respiceremus attenti ad gentem, quæ salvare non poterat.
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SADE. Lubricaverunt vestigia nostra in itinere platearum nostrarum, appropinquavit finis noster: completi sunt dies nostri, quia venit finis noster.
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COPH. Velociores fuerunt persecutores nostri aquilis cæli: super montes persecuti sunt nos, in deserto insidiati sunt nobis.
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RES. Spiritus oris nostri Christus Dominus captus est in peccatis nostris: cui diximus: In umbra tua vivemus in Gentibus.
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SIN. Gaude, et lætare filia Edom, quæ habitas in Terra Hus: ad te quoque perveniet calix, inebriaberis, atque nudaberis.
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THAU. Completa est iniquitas tua filia Sion, non addet ultra ut transmigret te: visitavit iniquitatem tuam filia Edom, discooperuit peccata tua.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
How the gold has become dim! The most pure gold has changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
2
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how they are esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3
Even the jackals offer their breast. They nurse their young ones. But the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4
The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst. The young children ask for bread, and no one breaks it for them.
5
Those who ate delicacies are desolate in the streets. Those who were brought up in purple embrace dunghills.
6
For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown as in a moment. No hands were laid on her.
7
Her nobles were purer than snow. They were whiter than milk. They were more ruddy in body than rubies. Their polishing was like sapphire.
8
Their appearance is blacker than a coal. They are not known in the streets. Their skin clings to their bones. It is withered. It has become like wood.
9
Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through, for lack of the fruits of the field.
10
The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children. They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11
The LORD has accomplished his wrath. He has poured out his fierce anger. He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations.
12
The kings of the earth didn’t believe, neither did all the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.
13
It is because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the middle of her.
14
They wander as blind men in the streets. They are polluted with blood, So that men can’t touch their garments.
15
“Go away!” they cried to them. “Unclean! Go away! Go away! Don’t touch! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, “They can’t live here any more.”
16
The LORD’s anger has scattered them. He will not pay attention to them any more. They didn’t respect the persons of the priests. They didn’t favor the elders.
17
Our eyes still fail, looking in vain for our help. In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
18
They hunt our steps, so that we can’t go in our streets. Our end is near. Our days are fulfilled, for our end has come.
19
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky. They chased us on the mountains. They set an ambush for us in the wilderness.
20
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits; of whom we said, under his shadow we will live among the nations.
21
Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, who dwells in the land of Uz. The cup will pass through to you also. You will be drunken, and will make yourself naked.
22
The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion. He will no more carry you away into captivity. He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom. He will uncover your sins.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
How is the gold become dim, Changed the best--the pure gold? Poured out are stones of the sanctuary At the head of all out-places.
2
The precious sons of Zion, Who are comparable with fine gold, How have they been reckoned earthen bottles, Work of the hands of a potter.
3
Even dragons have drawn out the breast, They have suckled their young ones, The daughter of my people is become cruel, Like the ostriches in a wilderness.
4
Cleaved hath the tongue of a suckling unto his palate with thirst, Infants asked bread, a dealer out they have none.
5
Those eating of dainties have been desolate in out-places, Those supported on scarlet have embraced dunghills.
6
And greater is the iniquity of the daughter of my people, Than the sin of Sodom, That was overturned as <FI>in<Fi> a moment, And no hands were stayed on her.
7
Purer were her Nazarites than snow, Whiter than milk, ruddier of body than rubies, Of sapphire their form.
8
Darker than blackness hath been their visage, They have not been known in out-places, Cleaved hath their skin unto their bone, It hath withered--it hath been as wood.
9
Better have been the pierced of a sword Than the pierced of famine, For these flow away, pierced through, Without the increase of the field.
10
The hands of merciful women have boiled their own children, They have been for food to them, In the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11
Completed hath Jehovah His fury, He hath poured out the fierceness of His anger, And he kindleth a fire in Zion, And it devoureth her foundations.
12
Believe not did the kings of earth, And any of the inhabitants of the world, That come would an adversary and enemy Into the gates of Jerusalem.
13
Because of the sins of her prophets, The iniquities of her priests, Who are shedding in her midst the blood of the righteous,
14
They have wandered naked in out-places, They have been polluted with blood, Without <FI>any<Fi> being able to touch their clothing,
15
`Turn aside--unclean,' they called to them, `Turn aside, turn aside, touch not,' For they fled--yea, they have wandered, They have said among nations: `They do not add to sojourn.'
16
The face of Jehovah hath divided them, He doth not add to behold them, The face of priests they have not lifted up, Elders they have not favoured.
17
While we exist--consumed are our eyes for our vain help, In our watch-tower we have watched for a nation <FI>that<Fi> saveth not.
18
They have hunted our steps from going in our broad-places, Near hath been our end, fulfilled our days, For come hath our end.
19
Swifter have been our pursuers, Than the eagles of the heavens, On the mountains they have burned <FI>after<Fi> us, In the wilderness they have laid wait for us.
20
The breath of our nostrils--the anointed of Jehovah, Hath been captured in their pits, of whom we said: `In his shadow we do live among nations.'
21
Joy and rejoice, O daughter of Edom, Dwelling in the land of Uz, Even unto thee pass over doth a cup, Thou art drunk, and makest thyself naked.
22
Completed <FI>is<Fi> thy iniquity, daughter of Zion, He doth not add to remove thee, He hath inspected thy iniquity, O daughter of Edom, He hath removed <FI>thee<Fi> because of thy sins!
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).