Lamentations 4 NIV HCSB Parallel

◄ Lamentations 4 ►

NIV Parallel HCSB [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]

New International Version

Holman Christian Standard Bible

1How the gold has lost its luster, the fine gold become dull! The sacred gems are scattered at every street corner.

1How the gold has become tarnished, the fine gold become dull! The stones of the temple lie scattered at the corner of every street.

2How the precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, are now considered as pots of clay, the work of a potter's hands!

2Zion's precious people-- once worth their weight in pure gold-- how they are regarded as clay jars, the work of a potter's hands!

3Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my people have become heartless like ostriches in the desert.

3Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my dear people have become cruel like ostriches in the wilderness.

4Because of thirst the infant's tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth; the children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them.

4The nursing infant's tongue clings to the roof of his mouth from thirst. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.

5Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets. Those brought up in royal purple now lie on ash heaps.

5Those who used to eat delicacies are destitute in the streets; those who were reared in purple garments huddle in garbage heaps.

6The punishment of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment without a hand turned to help 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.

7Their princes were brighter than snow and whiter than milk, their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like lapis lazuli.

7Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, their appearance like sapphire.

8But now they are 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.

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.

9Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of famine; racked with hunger, they waste away for lack of food from 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.

10With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyed.

10The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children; they became their food during the destruction of my dear people.

11The LORD has given full vent to his wrath; he has poured out his fierce anger. He kindled a fire in Zion that consumed her 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 did any of the peoples of the world, that enemies and foes 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.

13But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous.

13Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous within her.

14Now they grope through the streets as if they were blind. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments.

14Blind, they stumbled in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments."

15"Go away! You are unclean!" people cry to them. "Away! Away! Don't touch us!" When they flee and wander about, people among the nations say, "They can stay here no longer."

15Stay 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 no longer watches over them. The priests are shown no honor, the elders no favor.

16The LORD Himself has scattered them; He regards them no more. The priests are not respected; the elders find no favor.

17Moreover, our eyes failed, looking in vain for help; from our towers we watched for a nation that could not save us.

17All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for assistance; we watched from our towers for a nation that refused to help.

18People stalked us at every step, so we could not walk in our streets. Our end was 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 drew near; our time ran out. Our end had come!

19Our pursuers were swifter than eagles in the sky; they chased us over the mountains and lay in wait for us in the desert.

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 LORD's anointed, our very life breath, was caught in their traps. We thought that under his shadow we would 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, Daughter Edom, you who live in the land of Uz. But to you also the cup will be passed; you will be drunk and stripped naked.

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.

22Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion; he will not prolong your exile. But he will punish your sin, Daughter Edom, and expose your wickedness.

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.

New International Version (NIV)

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