NASB — Lamentations 4 — KJV

Distress of the Siege Described

  1 How° adark° the gold° has become°,
  [How] the pure° gold° has changed°!
  The sacred° stones° are poured° out
  At the Icorner° of every° street°.
  2 The precious° sons° of Zion°,
  Weighed° against fine° gold°,
  How° they are regarded° as aearthen° jars°,
  The work° of a potter’s° hands°!
  3 Even° ajackals° offer° the breast°,
  They nurse° their young°;
  [But] the daughter° of my people° has become bcruel°
  Like costriches° in the wilderness°.
  4 The atongue° of the infant° cleaves°
  To the roof° of its mouth° because of bthirst°;
  The little° ones° cask° for bread°,
  [But] no° one° breaks° [it] for them.
  5 Those who ate° adelicacies°
  Are desolate° in the streets°;
  Those Ireared° in purple°
  Embrace° ash° pits°.
  6 For the Iiniquity° of the daughter° of my people°
  Is greater° than° the IIasin° of Sodom°,
  Which was boverthrown° as in a moment°,
  And no° hands° were IIIturned° toward her.
  7 Her Iconsecrated° ones° were apurer° than° snow°,
  They were whiter° than° milk°;
  They were more° ruddy° [in] IIbody° than° corals°,
  Their polishing° [was like] IIIblapis° lazuli°.
  8 Their appearance° is ablacker° than° soot°,
  They are not recognized° in the streets°;
  Their bskin° is shriveled° on their bones°,
  It is withered°, it has become° like wood°.
  9 Better° are those Iaslain° with the sword°
  Than° those Islain° with hunger°;
  For they IIbpine° away°, being stricken°
  For lack of the fruits° of IIIthe field°.
  10 The hands° of compassionate° women°
  aBoiled° their own children°;
  They became° bfood° for them
  Because of the destruction° of the daughter° of my people°.
  11 The LORD° has aaccomplished° His wrath°,
  He has poured° out His fierce° anger°;
  And He has bkindled° a fire° in Zion°
  Which has consumed° its foundations°.
  12 The kings° of the earth° did not believe°,
  Nor° [did] any° of athe inhabitants° of the world°,
  That the adversary° and the enemy°
  Could benter° the gates° of Jerusalem°.
  13 Because° of the sins° of her aprophets°
  [And] the iniquities° of her priests°,
  Who have shed° in her midst°
  The bblood° of the righteous°;
  14 They wandered°, ablind°, in the streets°;
  They were defiled° with bblood°
  So that no° one could° touch° their cgarments°.
  15 “Depart°! aUnclean°!” Ithey cried° of themselves.
  “Depart°, depart°, do not touch°!”
  So° they bfled° and wandered°;
  [Men] among the nations° said°,
  “They shall not continue° to dwell° [with us].”
  16 The presence° of the LORD° has scattered° them,
  He will not continue° to regard° them;
  They did not Iahonor°° the priests°,
  They did not favor° the elders°.
  17 Yet° our eyes° failed°,
  [Looking] for Ihelp° was auseless°;
  In our watching° we have watched°
  For a bnation° that could not save°.
  18 They ahunted° our steps°
  So° that we could not walk° in our streets°;
  Our bend° drew° near°,
  Our days° were Ifinished°
  For our end° had come°.
  19 Our pursuers° were aswifter°
  Than° the eagles° of the sky°;
  They chased° us on the mountains°,
  They waited° in ambush° for us in the wilderness°.
  20 The abreath° of our nostrils°, the bLORDS° anointed°,
  Was ccaptured° in their pits°,
  Of whom° we had said°, “Under his dshadow°
  We shall live° among the nations°.”
  21 Rejoice° and be glad°, O daughter° of aEdom°,
  Who dwells° in the land° of Uz°;
  [But] the bcup° will come° around° to you as well°,
  You will become° drunk° and make° yourself naked°.
  22 [The punishment] of your iniquity° has been° acompleted°, O daughter° of Zion°;
  He will exile° you no° longer°.
  [But] He bwill punish° your iniquity°, O daughter° of Edom°;
  He will expose° your sins°!

[1] ILit head aEzk 7:19-22
[2] aIs 30:14; Jr 19:1, 11
[3] aIs 13:22; 34:13 bIs 49:15; Ezk 5:10 cJb 39:14-17
[4] aPs 22:15 bJr 14:3 cLm 2:12
[5] ILit established in crimson aJr 6:2; Am 6:3-7
[6] IOr punishment for iniquity IIOr punishment for sin IIIOr wrung over her aGn 19:24 bGn 19:25; Jr 20:16
[7] IOr Nazirites IILit bones IIIHeb sappir aPs 51:7 bEx 24:10; Jb 28:16
[8] aJb 30:30; Lm 5:10 bJb 19:20; Ps 102:3-5
[9] ILit pierced IILit flow away IIILit my fields aJr 16:4 bLv 26:39; Ezk 24:23
[10] aLv 26:29; Dt 28:57; 2K 6:29; Jr 19:9; Lm 2:20; Ezk 5:10 bDt 28:53-55
[11] aJr 7:20; Lm 2:17; Ezk 22:31 bDt 32:22; Jr 17:27
[12] aDt 29:24 bJr 21:13
[13] aJr 5:31; 6:13; Lm 2:14; Ezk 22:26-28 bJr 2:30; 26:8, 9; Mt 23:31
[14] aDt 28:28, 29; Is 29:10; 56:10; 59:9, 10 bIs 1:15 cJr 2:34
[15] IOr they (men) cried to them aLv 13:45, 46 bJr 49:5
[16] ILit lift up the faces of aIs 9:14-16; Jr 52:24-27
[17] ILit our help aJr 37:7; Lm 1:7 bEzk 29:6, 7, 16
[18] ILit full aJr 16:16 bJr 5:31; Ezk 7:2-12; Am 8:2
[19] aIs 5:26-28; 30:16, 17; Jr 4:13; Hab 1:8
[20] aGn 2:7 b2S 1:14; 19:21 cJr 39:5; 52:9 dDn 4:12
[21] aPs 137:7; Jr 25:21 bOb 16
[22] aIs 40:2; Jr 33:7, 8 bJr 49:10; Mal 1:3, 4


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 http://www.lockman.org.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
with Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries
Copyright © 1981, 1998 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Zion bewaileth her pitiful estate.

1 ¶ How² is the goldº become dim!ºª [how] is the mostº fine goldº changed!ºª the stonesº of the sanctuaryº are poured outºª in the topº of every² street.º 2 The preciousº sonsº of Zion,º comparableºª to fine gold,º how² are they esteemedºª as earthenº pitchers,º the workº of the handsº of the potter!ºª 3 Even² the sea monsters¹² draw outºª the breast,º they give suckºª to their young ones:º the daughterº of my peopleº [is become] cruel,º like the ostrichesº in the wilderness.º 4 The tongueº of the sucking childºª cleavethºª to² the roof of his mouthº for thirst:º the young childrenº askºª bread,º [and] no man² breakethºª [it] unto them. 5 They that did feedºª delicatelyº are desolateºª in the streets:º they that were brought upºª in² scarletº embraceºª dunghills.º 6 For the punishment of the iniquityº of the daughterº of my peopleº is greaterºª than the punishment¹ of the sin²² of Sodom,º that was overthrownºª as in² a moment,º and no² handsº stayedºª on her. 7 Her Nazaritesº were purerºª than snow,º² they were whiterºª than milk,º² they were more ruddyºª in bodyº than rubies,º² their polishingº [was] of sapphire:º 8 Their visageº is blackerºª than a coal;º² they are not² knownºª in the streets:º their skinº cleavethºª to² their bones;º it is withered,ºª it is become² like a stick.º 9 [They that be] slainº with the swordº are² betterº than [they that be] slainº² with hunger:º for theseº² pine away,ºª stricken¹ª through² for [want of] the fruitsº² of the field.º 10 The handsº of the pitifulº womenº have soddenºª their own children:º they were² their meatºª in the destructionº of the daughterº of my people.º 11 The LORDº hath accomplishedºª² his fury;º he hath poured outºª his fierceº anger,º and hath kindledºª a fireº in Zion,º and it hath devouredºª the foundationsº thereof. 12 The kingsº of the earth,º and all² the inhabitantsºª of the world,º would not² have believedºª that² the adversaryº and the enemyºª should have enteredºª into the gatesº of Jerusalem.º

[1] 2K 25:9; Is 1:21; 14:12; Jr 52:13; Lm 2:19; Ezk 7:19; Mt 24:2; Mk 13:2; Lk 21:5.
[2] Is 30:14; 51:18; Jr 19:11; 22:28; Lm 2:21; 5:12; Zc 9:13; Ro 9:21; 2Co 4:7; 2Ti 2:20.
[3] Lv 26:29; Dt 28:52; 2K 6:26; Jb 39:13; Is 49:15; Jr 19:9; Lm 2:20; 4:10; Ezk 5:10; Lk 23:28; Ro 1:31.
[4] Dt 32:24; Ps 22:15; 137:6; Lm 1:11; 2:11; Mt 7:9.
[5] Dt 28:54; 2S 1:24; Jb 24:8; Pv 31:21; Is 3:16; 24:6; 32:9; Jr 6:2; 9:21; Am 6:3; Lk 7:25; 15:16; 16:19; 1Ti 5:6; Rv 18:7.
[6] Gn 19:25; Is 1:9; Lm 4:9; Ezk 16:48; Dn 9:12; Mt 11:23; 24:21; Lk 10:12; 12:47.
[7] Nu 6:2; Jg 13:5, 7; 16:17; 1S 16:12; Ps 51:7; 144:12; So 5:10; Dn 1:15; Am 2:11; Lk 1:15.
[8] Ru 1:19; Jb 2:12; 19:20; 30:17, 30; 33:21; Ps 32:4; 38:3; 102:3, 11; 119:83; Is 52:14; Lm 4:1; 5:10; Jol 2:6; Na 2:10.
[9] Lv 26:39; Ezk 24:23; 33:10.
[10] Dt 28:56; 2K 6:26, 29; Is 49:15; Lm 2:20; 3:48; 4:3.
[11] Dt 32:21, 22; Jr 6:11; 7:20; 9:9; 13:14; 14:15; 15:1; 19:3; 21:14; 23:19; 24:8; Lm 2:8, 17; 4:22; Ezk 20:47; 22:31; Dn 9:12; Zc 1:6; Lk 21:22.
[12] Dt 29:24; 1K 9:8; Ps 48:4.

She confesseth her sins.

13 ¶ For the sinsº² of her prophets,º [and] the iniquitiesº of her priests,º that have shedºª the bloodº of the justº in the midstº of her, 14 They have wanderedºª [as] blindº [men] in the streets,º they have pollutedºª themselves with blood,º so that men couldºª notº touchºª their garments.º 15 They criedºª unto them, Departºª ye; [it is] unclean;º depart,ºª depart,ºª touchºª not:² when² they fled awayºª and² wandered,ºª they saidºª among the heathen,º They shall no² moreºª sojournºª [there]. 16 The angerº of the LORDº hath dividedºª them; he will no² moreºª regardºª them: they respectedºª not² the personsº of the priests,º they favouredºª not² the elders.º 17 As for us, our eyesº as yet² failedºª for² our vainº help:º in our watchingº we have watchedºª for² a nationº [that] could not² saveºª [us]. 18 They huntºª our steps,º that we cannot go¹ª²² in our streets:º our endº is near,ºª our daysº are fulfilled;ºª for² our endº is come.ºª 19 Our persecutorsºª are² swifterº than the eaglesº² of the heaven:º they pursuedºª us upon² the mountains,º they laid waitºª for us in the wilderness.º 20 The breathº of our nostrils,º the anointedº of the LORD,º was takenºª in their pits,º of whom² we said,ºª Under his shadowº we shall liveºª among the heathen.º

[13] Jr 2:20; 5:31; 6:13; 14:14; 23:11; 26:8; Lm 2:14; Ezk 22:26; Mi 3:11; Zp 3:3; Mt 23:31, 33; Lk 11:47; Ac 7:52; 1Th 2:15.
[14] Nu 19:16; 35:33; Dt 28:28; Is 1:15; 29:10; 56:10; 59:9; Jr 2:34; Ho 4:2; Mi 3:6; Mt 15:14; Ep 4:18.
[16] Gn 49:7; Lv 26:33; Dt 28:25, 64; 32:26; 2K 25:18; 2Ch 36:17; Ps 106:44; Is 9:14; Jr 15:4; 24:9; Lm 5:12; He 8:9.
[17] 2K 24:7; Is 20:5; 30:1; 31:1; Jr 2:18, 36; 8:20; 37:7; Lm 1:19; Ezk 29:6, 16.
[18] 1S 24:14; 2K 25:4; Jb 10:16; Ps 140:11; Jr 1:12; 16:16; 39:4; 51:33; 52:7; Lm 3:52; Ezk 7:2; 12:22, 27; Am 8:2.
[19] Dt 28:49; Is 5:26; 30:16; Jr 4:13; Ho 8:1; Am 2:14; 9:1; Hab 1:8; Mt 24:27.
[20] Gn 2:7; 44:30; 1S 12:3, 5; 16:6; 24:6, 10; 26:9, 16; 2S 1:14, 21; 18:3; 19:21; Ps 89:20; Jr 39:5; 52:8; Lm 2:9; Ezk 12:13; 17:18; 19:4.

Edom is threatened.

21 ¶ Rejoiceºª and be glad,ºª O daughterº of Edom,º that dwellestºª in the landº of Uz;º the cupº also² shall pass¹ª through² unto² thee: thou shalt be drunken,ºª and shalt make thyself naked.ºª

[21] Gn 36:28; 2Ch 28:19; Jb 1:1; Ps 83:3; 137:7; Ec 11:9; Is 34:1; 63:1; Jr 25:15; 49:12; Ezk 25:6, 8, 12; 26:2; 35:3, 11; Am 1:11; Ob 1:1, 10; Mi 1:11; Mal 1:2; Rv 16:15.

Zion is comforted.

22 ¶ The punishment of thine iniquityº is accomplished,ºª O daughterº of Zion;º he will no² moreºª carry thee away into captivity:ºª he will visitºª thine iniquity,º O daughterº of Edom;º he will discoverºª² thy sins.º

[22] Ps 137:7; Is 40:2; 52:1; 60:18; Jr 32:40; 46:27; 50:20; Lm 4:6, 21; Ezk 37:28.


KJV 1769 King James Bible Authorized Version (Student's Edition)
©2011 by First Gospel Publications, Zion, Ill. All rights reserved.
For downloads and more information please visit www.FirstGospel.com.
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
with Hebrew-Chaldee and Greek Dictionaries
Featuring the qBible.com Living Strong's Lexical Map
©2003 by The WWW Chat Bible Compages. All rights reserved.
For how to use color-coding please view [www.ChatBible.com/key.html].

Lamentations 4 Top of NASB New American Standard Bible KJV King James Version Red-Letter Strong's Concordance Numbers Cross References & Footnotes


 ChatBible.com  |  Lexicon & Concordance  |  1611Bible.com 
 Download  |  Contact  |  About  | Become a fan.