{"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/web/lamentations/4","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-06-09T23:19:15.693Z"},"reference":{"translation":"WEB","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 head 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 nurse their young ones: The daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst: The young children ask bread, and no man breaks it to them."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"Those who did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: Those who were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills."},{"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 on 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 appearance is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: Their skin clings to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed 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 boiled their own children; They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"Yahweh has accomplished his wrath, he has poured out his fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"The kings of the earth didn't believe, neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would 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, they are polluted with blood, So that men can't touch their garments."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"Depart! they cried to them, Unclean! depart, depart, don't touch! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall no more live [here]."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"The anger of Yahweh has scattered them; he will no more regard them: They didn't respect the persons of the priests, they didn't favor 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, so that we can't 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 sky: They chased us on the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness."},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Yahweh, 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, daughter of Edom, that dwell in the land of Uz: The cup shall pass through to you also; you shall be drunken, and shall make yourself naked."},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion; he will no more carry you away into captivity: He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom; he will uncover your sins."}],"citation":{"inline":"Lamentations 4 (WEB)","markdown":"[Lamentations 4](https://primebible.com/web/lamentations/4)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* WEB. https://primebible.com/web/lamentations/4 (accessed 2026-06-09)."}}