Lamentations 4:1-12

Other Translations of Lamentations 4:1-12

New International Version

The Punishment of Zion Accomplished

4¹ How the gold has lost its luster, the fine gold become dull! The sacred gems are scattered at every street corner. ² How 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! ³ Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my people have become heartless like ostriches in the desert. ⁴ 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. ⁵ Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets. Those brought up in royal purple now lie on ash heaps. ⁶ The punishment of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment without a hand turned to help her. ⁷ Their princes were brighter than snow and whiter than milk, their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like lapis lazuli. ⁸ But 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. ⁹ Those 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. ¹⁰ With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyed. ¹¹ The 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. ¹² The 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.

English Standard Version

The Punishment of Zion Accomplished

4¹ How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The holy stones lie scattered at the head of every street. ² The precious sons of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold, how they are regarded as earthen pots, the work of a potter's hands! ³ Even jackals offer the breast; they nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness. ⁴ 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. ⁵ Those who once feasted on delicacies perish in the streets; those who were brought up in purple embrace ash heaps. ⁶ For the chastisementOr iniquity of the daughter of my people has been greater than the punishmentOr sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and no hands were wrung for her.The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain ⁷ Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, the beauty of their formThe meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain was like sapphire.Hebrew lapis lazuli ⁸ Now their face is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets; their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as wood. ⁹ Happier were the victims of the sword than the victims of hunger, who wasted away, pierced by lack of the fruits of the field. ¹⁰ The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their food during the destruction of the daughter of my people. ¹¹ The Lord gave full vent to his wrath; he poured out his hot anger, and he kindled a fire in Zion that consumed its foundations. ¹² The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem.

The Message

The Punishment of Zion Accomplished

4¹ Oh, oh, oh . . . How gold is treated like dirt, the finest gold thrown out with the garbage, Priceless jewels scattered all over, jewels loose in the gutters. ² And the people of Zion, once prized, far surpassing their weight in gold, Are now treated like cheap pottery, like everyday pots and bowls mass-produced by a potter. ³ Even wild jackals nurture their babies, give them their breasts to suckle. But my people have turned cruel to their babies, like an ostrich in the wilderness. ⁴ Babies have nothing to drink. Their tongues stick to the roofs of their mouths. Little children ask for bread but no one gives them so much as a crust. ⁵ People used to the finest cuisine forage for food in the streets. People used to the latest in fashions pick through the trash for something to wear. ⁶ The evil guilt of my dear people was worse than the sin of Sodom - The city was destroyed in a flash, and no one around to help. ⁷ The splendid and sacred nobles once glowed with health. Their bodies were robust and ruddy, their beards like carved stone. ⁸ But now they are smeared with soot, unrecognizable in the street, Their bones sticking out, their skin dried out like old leather. ⁹ Better to have been killed in battle than killed by starvation. Better to have died of battle wounds than to slowly starve to death. ¹⁰ Nice and kindly women boiled their own children for supper. This was the only food in town when my dear people were broken. ¹¹ God let all his anger loose, held nothing back. He poured out his raging wrath. He set a fire in Zion that burned it to the ground. ¹² The kings of the earth couldn't believe it. World rulers were in shock, Watching old enemies march in big as you please, right through Jerusalem's gates.

New King James Version

The Punishment of Zion Accomplished

4¹ How the gold has become dim! How changed the fine gold! The stones of the sanctuary are scattered At the head of every street. ² The precious sons of Zion, Valuable as fine gold, How they are regarded as clay pots, The work of the hands of the potter! ³ Even the jackals present their breasts To nurse their young; But the daughter of my people is cruel, Like ostriches in the wilderness. ⁴ The tongue of the infant clings To the roof of its mouth for thirst; The young children ask for bread, But no one breaks it for them. ⁵ Those who ate delicacies Are desolate in the streets; Those who were brought up in scarlet Embrace ash heaps. ⁶ The punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people Is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown in a moment, With no hand to help her! ⁷ Her Nazirites were brighter than snow And whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, Like sapphire in their appearance. ⁸ Now their appearance is blacker than soot; They go unrecognized in the streets; Their skin clings to their bones, It has become as dry as wood. ⁹ Those slain by the sword are better off Than those who die of hunger; For these pine away, Stricken for lack of the fruits of the field. ¹⁰ The hands of the compassionate women Have cooked their own children; They became food for them In the destruction of the daughter of my people. ¹¹ The Lord has fulfilled His fury, He has poured out His fierce anger. He kindled a fire in Zion, And it has devoured its foundations. ¹² The kings of the earth, And all inhabitants of the world, Would not have believed That the adversary and the enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem--

New Living Translation

The Punishment of Zion Accomplished

4¹ How the gold has lost its luster! Even the finest gold has become dull. The sacred gemstones lie scattered in the streets! ² See how the precious children of Jerusalem, worth their weight in fine gold, are now treated like pots of clay made by a common potter. ³ Even the jackals feed their young, but not my people Israel. They ignore their children's cries, like ostriches in the desert. ⁴ 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. ⁵ The people who once ate the richest foods now beg in the streets for anything they can get. Those who once wore the finest clothes now search the garbage dumps for food. ⁶ The guilt of my people is greater than that of Sodom, where utter disaster struck in a moment and no hand offered help. ⁷ Our princes once glowed with health- brighter than snow, whiter than milk. Their faces were as ruddy as rubies, their appearance like fine jewels. ⁸ But now their faces are blacker than soot. No one recognizes them in the streets. Their skin sticks to their bones; it is as dry and hard as wood. ⁹ Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger. Starving, they waste away for lack of food from the fields. ¹⁰ Tenderhearted women have cooked their own children. They have eaten them to survive the siege. ¹¹ But now the anger of the Lord is satisfied. His fierce anger has been poured out. He started a fire in Jerusalem that burned the city to its foundations. ¹² Not a king in all the earth- no one in all the world- would have believed that an enemy could march through the gates of Jerusalem.