Lamentations 4
NASB Parallel BSB [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]
New American Standard Bible 1995Berean Study Bible
1How dark the gold has become, How the pure gold has changed! The sacred stones are poured out At the corner 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.
2The precious sons of Zion, Weighed against fine gold, How they are regarded as earthen 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 the breast, They nurse their young; But the daughter of my people has 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 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.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 ate delicacies Are desolate in the streets; Those reared in purple Embrace ash pits.5Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.
6For the iniquity of the daughter of my people Is greater than the sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown as in a moment, And no hands were turned toward her.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 consecrated ones were purer than snow, They were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than corals, Their polishing was like lapis lazuli.7Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.
8Their appearance is blacker than soot, They are not recognized in the streets; Their skin is shriveled on their bones, It is withered, it has become 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.
9Better are those slain with the sword Than those slain with hunger; For they pine away, being stricken For lack of the fruits of the field.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 Boiled their own children; They became food for them Because of the destruction of the daughter of my 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 accomplished His wrath, He has poured out His fierce anger; And He has kindled a fire in Zion Which has consumed its 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 did not believe, Nor did any of the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem.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.
13Because of the sins of her prophets And the iniquities of her priests, Who have shed in her midst The blood of the righteous;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.
14They wandered, blind, in the streets; They were defiled with blood So that no one could touch their garments.14They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.
15"Depart! Unclean!" they cried of themselves. "Depart, depart, do not touch!" So they fled and wandered; Men among the nations said, "They shall not continue to dwell with us."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 presence of the LORD has scattered them, He will not continue to regard them; They did not honor the priests, They did not favor the elders.16The presence of the LORD has scattered them; He regards them no more. The priests are shown no honor; the elders find no favor.
17Yet our eyes failed, Looking for help was useless; In our watching we have watched For a nation that could not save.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.
18They hunted our steps So that we could not walk in our streets; Our end drew near, Our days were finished For 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!
19Our pursuers were swifter Than the eagles of the sky; They chased us on the mountains, They waited in ambush for 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 breath of our nostrils, the LORD'S anointed, Was captured in their pits, Of whom we had said, "Under his shadow We shall live 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.”
21Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, Who dwells in the land of Uz; But the cup will come around to you as well, You will become drunk and make yourself naked.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.
22The punishment of your iniquity has been completed, O daughter of Zion; He will exile you no longer. But He will punish your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; He 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.
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 //www.lockman.orgThe Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved.
Lamentations 3
Top of Page
Top of Page