Lamentations 4:1-22
א [ʼAʹleph]
4 O how the gold that shines becomes dim, the good gold!*+O how the holy stones*+ are poured out at the head of all the streets!+
ב [Behth]
2 As for the precious sons of Zion,+ those who were weighed against refined gold,*O how they have been reckoned as large jars of earthenware, the work of the hands of a potter!+
ג [Giʹmel]
3 Even jackals themselves have presented the udder. They have suckled their cubs.The daughter of my people becomes cruel,+ like ostriches in the wilderness.+
ד [Daʹleth]
4 The tongue of the suckling has cleaved to its palate because of thirst.+Children themselves have asked for bread.+ There is no one dealing [it] out to them.+
ה [Heʼ]
5 The very ones that were eating pleasant things have been struck with astonishment in the streets.+The very ones that were being reared in scarlet+ have had to embrace ash heaps.+
ו [Waw]
6 The [punishment for the] error of the daughter of my people also becomes greater than the [punishment for the] sin of Sodʹom,+Which was overthrown as in a moment, and to which no hands turned [helpfully].+
ז [Zaʹyin]
7 Her Nazʹi·rites+ were purer than snow;+ they were whiter than milk.They were in fact more ruddy+ than corals; their polish was as the sapphire.+
ח [Chehth]
8 Their aspect has become darker than blackness itself. They have not been recognized in the streets.+Their skin has shriveled upon their bones.+ It has become just as dry as a tree.
ט [Tehth]
9 Better have those slain with the sword+ proved to be than those slain by famine,+Because these pine away,* pierced through for lack of the produce of the open field.
י [Yohdh]
10 The very hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children.+They have become as bread of consolation to one during the breakdown of the daughter of my people.+
כ [Kaph]
11 Jehovah has accomplished his rage.+ He has poured out his burning anger.+And he sets a fire ablaze in Zion, which eats up her foundations.+
ל [Laʹmedh]
12 The kings of the earth and all the inhabitants of the productive land* had not believed+That the adversary and the enemy would come into the gates of Jerusalem.+
מ [Mem]
13 Because of the sins of her prophets, the errors of her priests,+There were in the midst of her those pouring out the blood of righteous ones.+
נ [Nun]
14 They have wandered about as blind+ in the streets.+ They have become polluted with blood,+So that none are able to touch their garments.+
ס [Saʹmekh]
15 “Get out of the way! Unclean!”+ they have called out to them. “Get out of the way! Get out of the way! Do not touch!”+For they have gone homeless.+ They have also wandered about.+ People have said among the nations: “They will not reside again as aliens.+
פ [Peʼ]
16 The face of Jehovah has divided them up.+ He will not look upon them again.+Men will certainly show no consideration even for the priests.+ They will certainly show no favor even to the old men.”+
ע [ʽAʹyin]
17 While we yet are, our eyes keep pining away in vain for assistance to us.+During our looking about we have looked out to a nation that can bring no salvation.+
צ [Tsa·dhehʹ]
18 They have hunted our steps+ so that there is no walking in our public squares.Our end has drawn near. Our days have come to their full, for our end has come.+
ק [Qohph]
19 Swifter than the eagles of the heavens our pursuers have proved to be.+Upon the mountains they have hotly pursued us.+ In the wilderness they have lain in wait for us.+
ר [Rehsh]
20 The very breath* of our nostrils,+ the anointed one* of Jehovah,*+ has been captured in their large pit,+The one of whom we have said: “In his shade+ we shall live among the nations.”+
ש [Sin]
21 Exult and rejoice,+ O daughter of Eʹdom,+ dwelling as you do in the land of Uz.+To you also the cup* will pass along.+ You will become drunk and show yourself in nakedness.+
ת [Taw]
22 Your error, O daughter of Zion, has come to its finish.+ He will not* carry you off into exile again.+He has turned his attention to your error, O daughter of Eʹdom. He has uncovered your sins.+
Footnotes
^ Or, “the stones of the sanctuary.”
^ Or, “O how the gold [Heb., za·havʹ] becomes dim, how the good gold [Heb., hak·keʹthem] changes!” See Job 28:16, 17 ftns.
^ “Against refined gold.” Heb., bap·pazʹ.
^ Lit., “flow forth,” evidently figuratively.
^ “The productive land.” Heb., the·velʹ; LXX, “the inhabited earth”; Lat., orʹbis, “the circle,” that is, of the earth.
^ Or, “spirit (wind).” Heb., ruʹach; Gr., pneuʹma; Lat., spiʹri·tus.
^ “Anointed one of.” Heb., meshiʹach; Gr., khri·stosʹ; Syr., meshi·cheh; Lat., chriʹstus.
^ “The anointed Lord,” LXXBagsterVg.
^ “The cup,” MSyVg; T, “the cup of cursing”; LXX, “the cup of Jehovah.”
^ Or, “No one will.”
