1 How is the gold become dim, Changed the best — the pure gold? Poured out are stones of the sanctuary At the head of all out-places. YLT — Lamentations 4:1
2 The precious sons of Zion, Who are comparable with fine gold, How have they been reckoned earthen bottles, Work of the hands of a potter. YLT — Lamentations 4:2
3 Even dragons have drawn out the breast, They have suckled their young ones, The daughter of my people is become cruel, Like the ostriches in a wilderness. YLT — Lamentations 4:3
4 Cleaved hath the tongue of a suckling unto his palate with thirst, Infants asked bread, a dealer out they have none. YLT — Lamentations 4:4
5 Those eating of dainties have been desolate in out-places, Those supported on scarlet have embraced dunghills. YLT — Lamentations 4:5
6 And greater is the iniquity of the daughter of my people, Than the sin of Sodom, That was overturned as [in] a moment, And no hands were stayed on her. YLT — Lamentations 4:6
7 Purer were her Nazarites than snow, Whiter than milk, ruddier of body than rubies, Of sapphire their form. YLT — Lamentations 4:7
8 Darker than blackness hath been their visage, They have not been known in out-places, Cleaved hath their skin unto their bone, It hath withered — it hath been as wood. YLT — Lamentations 4:8
9 Better have been the pierced of a sword Than the pierced of famine, For these flow away, pierced through, Without the increase of the field. YLT — Lamentations 4:9
10 The hands of merciful women have boiled their own children, They have been for food to them, In the destruction of the daughter of my people. YLT — Lamentations 4:10
11 Completed hath Jehovah His fury, He hath poured out the fierceness of His anger, And he kindleth a fire in Zion, And it devoureth her foundations. YLT — Lamentations 4:11
12 Believe not did the kings of earth, And any of the inhabitants of the world, That come would an adversary and enemy Into the gates of Jerusalem. YLT — Lamentations 4:12
13 Because of the sins of her prophets, The iniquities of her priests, Who are shedding in her midst the blood of the righteous, YLT — Lamentations 4:13
14 They have wandered naked in out-places, They have been polluted with blood, Without [any] being able to touch their clothing, YLT — Lamentations 4:14
15 ’Turn aside — unclean,’ they called to them, ‘Turn aside, turn aside, touch not,’ For they fled — yea, they have wandered, They have said among nations: ‘They do not add to sojourn.’ YLT — Lamentations 4:15
16 The face of Jehovah hath divided them, He doth not add to behold them, The face of priests they have not lifted up, Elders they have not favoured. YLT — Lamentations 4:16
17 While we exist — consumed are our eyes for our vain help, In our watch-tower we have watched for a nation [that] saveth not. YLT — Lamentations 4:17
18 They have hunted our steps from going in our broad-places, Near hath been our end, fulfilled our days, For come hath our end. YLT — Lamentations 4:18
19 Swifter have been our pursuers, Than the eagles of the heavens, On the mountains they have burned [after] us, In the wilderness they have laid wait for us. YLT — Lamentations 4:19
20 The breath of our nostrils — the anointed of Jehovah, Hath been captured in their pits, of whom we said: ‘In his shadow we do live among nations.’ YLT — Lamentations 4:20
21 Joy and rejoice, O daughter of Edom, Dwelling in the land of Uz, Even unto thee pass over doth a cup, Thou art drunk, and makest thyself naked. YLT — Lamentations 4:21
22 Completed [is] thy iniquity, daughter of Zion, He doth not add to remove thee, He hath inspected thy iniquity, O daughter of Edom, He hath removed [thee] because of thy sins! YLT — Lamentations 4:22