Lamentations 4:4
 Lamentations 4:4 
New International Version (©2011)
Because 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.

New Living Translation (©2007)
The parched tongues of their little ones stick to the roofs of their mouths in thirst. The children cry for bread, but no one has any to give them.

English Standard Version (©2001)
The tongue of the nursing infant sticks to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food, but no one gives to them.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
The tongue of the infant cleaves To the roof of its mouth because of thirst; The little ones ask for bread, But no one breaks it for them.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
The nursing infant's tongue clings to the roof of his mouth from thirst. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.

International Standard Version (©2012)
The nursing child's tongue cleaves to its palate from thirst. Young children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.

NET Bible (©2006)
The infant's tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth due to thirst; little children beg for bread, but no one gives them even a morsel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The tongues of nursing infants stick to the roofs of their mouths because of their thirst. Little children beg for bread, but no one will break off a piece for them.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaks it unto them.

American King James Version
The tongue of the sucking child sticks to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaks it to them.

American Standard Version
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: The young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Daleth. The tongue of the sucking child hath stuck to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the little ones have asked for bread, and there was none to break it unto them.

Darby Bible Translation
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.

English Revised Version
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.

Webster's Bible Translation
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it to them.

World English Bible
The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst: The young children ask bread, and no man breaks it to them.

Young's Literal Translation
Cleaved hath the tongue of a suckling unto his palate with thirst, Infants asked bread, a dealer out they have none.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:1-12 What a change is here! Sin tarnishes the beauty of the most exalted powers and the most excellent gifts; but that gold, tried in the fire, which Christ bestows, never will be taken from us; its outward appearance may be dimmed, but its real value can never be changed. The horrors of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem are again described. Beholding the sad consequences of sin in the church of old, let us seriously consider to what the same causes may justly bring down the church now. But, Lord, though we have gone from thee in rebellion, yet turn to us, and turn our hearts to thee, that we may fear thy name. Come to us, bless us with awakening, converting, renewing, confirming grace.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. - Breaketh it unto them. The Jewish bread, consisting of round or oval cakes (comp. 1 Kings 19:6).


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst,.... Through want of the milk of the breast, which is both food and drink unto it:

the young children ask bread; of their parents as usual, not knowing how the case was, that there was a famine in the city; these are such as were more grown, were weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts, and lived on other food, and were capable of asking for it:

and no man breaketh it unto them: distributes unto them, or gives them a piece of bread; not father, friend, or any other person; it not being in their power to do it, they having none for themselves.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

4. thirst—The mothers have no milk to give through the famine.

He.


Lamentations 4:4 Parallel Commentaries

Lamentations 4:4 NIV
Lamentations 4:4 NLT
Lamentations 4:4 ESV
Lamentations 4:4 NASB
Lamentations 4:4 KJV

Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Distress of Zion
3Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness. 4The tongue of the sucking child sticks to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaks it to them. 5They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. …

Luke 10:11 Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.'
Deuteronomy 28:48 therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the LORD sends against you. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you.
Psalm 22:15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.
Jeremiah 14:3 The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns but find no water. They return with their jars unfilled; dismayed and despairing, they cover their heads.
Lamentations 2:12 They say to their mothers, "Where is bread and wine?" as they faint like the wounded in the streets of the city, as their lives ebb away in their mothers' arms.