Lamentations Capítulo 4
Just as Jeremiah had predicted, Jerusalem fell captive to Babylon. This book records five "laments" for the fallen city.
A Conservative Version
4 : 1 How the gold has become dim, the most pure gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
4 : 2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how they are esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
4 : 3 Even the jackals draw out the breast; they give suck to their young ones. The daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4 : 4 The tongue of the sucking child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst. The young sons ask bread, and no man breaks it to them.
4 : 5 Those who fed luxuriously are desolate in the streets. Those who were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
4 : 6 For 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 : 7 Her ranking men were purer than snow. They were whiter than milk. They were more ruddy in body than rubies. Their polishing was as of sapphire.
4 : 8 Their visage is blacker than a coal. They are not known in the streets. Their skin clings to their bones. It is withered. It has become like a stick.
4 : 9 Those who are slain with the sword are better than those who are slain with hunger, for these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.
4 : 10 The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children. They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
4 : 11 Jehovah has accomplished his wrath. He has poured out his fierce anger, and he has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured the foundations thereof.
4 : 12 The kings of the earth did not believe, nor all the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.
4 : 13 It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, who have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.
4 : 14 They wander as blind men in the streets. They are polluted with blood, so that men cannot touch their garments.
4 : 15 Depart ye, they cried to them. Unclean! Depart, depart, do not touch! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall no more sojourn here.
4 : 16 The anger of Jehovah has scattered them. He will no more regard them. They did not respect the persons of the priests. They did not favor the elders.
4 : 17 Our eyes do yet fail in looking for our vain help. In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
4 : 18 They hunt our steps, so that we cannot go in our streets. Our end is near, our days are fulfilled, for our end has come.
4 : 19 Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens. They chased us upon the mountains. They laid wait for us in the wilderness.
4 : 20 The 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 : 21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, who dwells in the land of Uz. Yet the cup shall pass through to thee also. Thou shall be drunken, and shall make thyself naked.
4 : 22 The 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.