{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/erv/lamentations/4","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-06-10T17:34:28.655Z"},"reference":{"translation":"ERV","book":"Lamentations","bookSlug":"lamentations","chapter":4,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":3,"nextChapter":5,"totalChapters":5,"totalVerses":22},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"How is the gold become dim! how is the most pure gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the top of every street."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!"},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"Even 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."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"The 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."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dung-hills."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire:"},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"Their 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."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children; they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"The LORD hath accomplished his fury, he hath poured out his fierce anger; and he hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured the foundations thereof."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"The kings of the earth believed not, neither all the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary and the enemy should enter into the gates of Jerusalem."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"It 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."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"They wander as blind men in the streets, that are polluted with blood, so that men cannot touch their garments."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"Depart 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."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders."},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"Our eyes do yet fail in looking for our vain help; in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save."},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they chased us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness."},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits; of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"Rejoice 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."},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"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 discover thy sins."}],"citation":{"inline":"Lamentations 4 (ERV)","markdown":"[Lamentations 4](https://primebible.com/erv/lamentations/4)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* ERV. https://primebible.com/erv/lamentations/4 (accessed 2026-06-10)."}}