Lamentations 4
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Christian Standard BibleBerean Study Bible
1How the gold has become tarnished, the fine gold become dull! The stones of the temple lie scattered at the head of every street.1How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.
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!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!
3Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my dear people have become cruel like ostriches in the wilderness.3Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like an ostrich in the wilderness.
4The nursing baby’s tongue clings to the roof of his mouth from thirst. Infants beg for food, but no one gives them any.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.
5Those who used to eat delicacies are destitute in the streets; those who were reared in purple garments huddle in trash heaps.5Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.
6The punishment of my dear people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand laid on it.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.
7Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, their appearance like lapis lazuli.7Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.
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.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.
9Those slain by the sword are better off than those slain by hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.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.
10The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children; they became their food during the destruction of my dear people.10The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11The LORD has exhausted his wrath, poured out his burning anger; he has ignited a fire in Zion, and it has consumed her foundations.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.
12The kings of the earth and all the world’s inhabitants did not believe that an enemy or adversary could enter Jerusalem’s gates.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.
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.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.
14Blind, they stumbled in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.14They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.
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.”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.”
16The LORD himself has scattered them; he no longer watches over them. The priests are not respected; the elders find no favor.16The presence of the LORD has scattered them; He regards them no more. The priests are shown no honor; the elders find no favor.
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.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.
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!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!
19Those who chased us were swifter than eagles in the sky; they relentlessly pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.19Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.
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.”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.”
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.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.
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.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.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved.
Lamentations 3
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