{"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/kjv/lamentations/4","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-27T02:55:05.413Z"},"reference":{"translation":"KJV","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! <i>how</i> is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in 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 sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people <i>is become</i> 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, <i>and</i> no man breaketh <i>it</i> unto them."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing <i>was</i> 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":"<i>They that be</i> slain with the sword are better than <i>they that be</i> slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for <i>want of</i> 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 hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"For the sins of her prophets, <i>and</i> the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,"},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"They have wandered <i>as</i> blind <i>men</i> in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"They cried unto them, Depart ye; <i>it is</i> unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn <i>there</i>."},{"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":"As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation <i>that</i> could not save <i>us</i>."},{"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 persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued 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 heathen."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: 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 (KJV)","markdown":"[Lamentations 4](https://primebible.com/kjv/lamentations/4)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* KJV. https://primebible.com/kjv/lamentations/4 (accessed 2026-05-27)."}}