4 1 How is the [a]gold become so [b]dim? the most fine gold is changed, and the stones of the Sanctuary are scattered in the corner of every street.
2 The noble [c]men of Zion comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen [d]pitchers, even the work of the hands of the potter!
3 Even the dragons [e]draw out the breasts, and give suck to their young: but the daughter of my people is become cruel like the [f]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, but no man breaketh it unto them.
5 They that did feed delicately, perish in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet, embrace the dung.
6 For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is become greater than the sin of Sodom, that was (A)destroyed as in a moment, and [g]none pitched camps against her.
7 Her (B)Nazirites were purer than the snow, and whiter than the milk: they were more ruddy in body, than the red precious stones: they were like polished sapphire.
8 Now their [h]visage is blacker than a coal: they cannot know them in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones: it is withered like a stock.
9 They that be slain with the sword, are better than they that are killed with hunger: for they fade away as they were stricken through for the [i]fruits of the field.
10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children, which were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 The Lord hath accomplished his indignation: he hath poured out his fierce wrath, he hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured the foundations thereof.
12 The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem:
13 For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of [j]her.
14 They have wandered as blind men[k]in the streets, and they were polluted with blood, so that[l]they would not touch their garments.
15 But they cried unto them, Depart ye polluted, depart, depart, touch not: therefore they fled away, and wandered: they have said among the heathen, They shall no more dwell there.
16 The [m]anger of the Lord hath scattered them, he will no more regard them: [n]they reverenced not the face of the Priest, nor had compassion on the Elders.
17 While we waited for our vain help, our eyes failed: for in our waiting we looked for [o]a nation that could not save us.
18 They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled, for our end is come.
19 Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, and laid wait for us in the wilderness.
20 The [p]breath of our nostrils, the Anointed of the Lord was taken in their nets, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall be preserved alive among the heathen.
21 Rejoice and be glad, [q]O daughter Edom: that dwellest in the land of Uz, the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken [r]and vomit.
22 Thy punishment is accomplished, O daughter Zion: he [s]will no more carry thee away into captivity, but he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter Edom, he will discover thy sins.
Footnotes
- Lamentations 4:1 By the gold, he meaneth the princes, as by the stones he understandeth the Priests.
- Lamentations 4:1 Or, hid.
- Lamentations 4:2 Or, sons.
- Lamentations 4:2 Which are of small estimation, and have none honor.
- Lamentations 4:3 Though the dragons be cruel, yet they pity their young, and nourish them, which things Jerusalem doth not.
- Lamentations 4:3 The women forsake their children, as the ostrich doth her eggs, Job 39:17.
- Lamentations 4:6 Or, no strength was against her.
- Lamentations 4:8 They that were before most in God’s favor, are now in greatest abomination unto him.
- Lamentations 4:9 For lack of food they pine away and consume.
- Lamentations 4:13 He meaneth that these things are come to pass therefore, contrary to all men’s expectation.
- Lamentations 4:14 Some refer this to the blind men, which as they went, stumbled on the blood, whereof the city was full.
- Lamentations 4:14 Meaning, the heathen which came to destroy them, could not abide them.
- Lamentations 4:16 Or, face.
- Lamentations 4:16 That is, the enemies.
- Lamentations 4:17 He showeth two principal causes of their destruction: their cruelty and their vain confidence in man: for they trusted in the help of the Egyptians.
- Lamentations 4:20 Our king Josiah, in whom stood our hope of God’s favor, and on whom depended our state and life, was slain, whom he calleth Anointed, because he was a figure of Christ.
- Lamentations 4:21 This is spoken by derision.
- Lamentations 4:21 Or, show thy nakedness.
- Lamentations 4:22 He comforteth the Church, by that after seventy years their sorrows shall have an end, whereas the wicked should be tormented forever.