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Lamentations 4 (asv)

(Online: ASV WEB)

4:1How is the gold become dim! how is the most pure gold changed!

The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.

4:2The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold,

How are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

4:3Even the jackals 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.

4:4The 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.

4:5They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets:

They that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

4:6For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom,

That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid upon her.

4:7Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk;

They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.

4:8Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets:

Their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

4:9They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger;

For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.

4:10The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children;

They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

4:11Jehovah hath accomplished his wrath, he hath poured out his fierce anger;

And he hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured the foundations thereof.

4:12The kings of the earth believed not, neither all the inhabitants of the world,

That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.

4:13It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests,

That have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.

4:14They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood,

So that men cannot touch their garments.

4:15Depart ye, they cried unto them, Unclean! depart, depart, touch not!

When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall no more sojourn here.

4:16The anger of Jehovah hath scattered them; he will no more regard them:

They respected not the persons of the priests, they favored not the elders.

4:17Our eyes do yet fail in looking for our vain help:

In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.

4:18They hunt our steps, so that we cannot go in our streets:

Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.

4:19Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens:

They chased us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

4:20The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jehovah, was taken in their pits;

Of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations. \\ \\

4:21Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz:

The cup shall pass through unto thee also; thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.

4:22The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity:

He will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will uncover thy sins.


Notes:

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Preceding Entry: Lamentations 3
Following Entry: Lamentations 5