Lamentations 4

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 4 of 5

¹ How the gold dims, the good pure gold is changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of all the outside places.

² The precious sons of Zion are weighed against pure gold. How they are counted as earthen vessels, the work of a potter's hand!

³ Even the jackals draw out the breast; they suckle their young. But the daughter of my people is cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

Chapter Summary

Zion bewails her pitiful estate. She confesses her sins. Edom is threatened.

לְשׁ֥וֹן tongue H3956 · TWOT 1131a

גּוּרֵי whelp H1482 · TWOT 331b

כֹּהֲנֶ֑י priest H3548 · TWOT 959a

צָפַ֤ד draw together H6821 · TWOT 1949

קֹ֔דֶשׁ apartness H6944 · TWOT 1990a

The Devaluation of Zion's Sons

The precious sons of Zion, once weighed against pure gold, are devalued and counted merely as earthen vessels made by a potter.

Desperate Acts of Famine

The famine becomes so severe and devastating that compassionate women resort to boiling their own children for food.

Capture of the King

The anointed of Jehovah, considered the breath of the people's nostrils, is captured in the pits of their pursuers.

The Devaluation of Zion's Sons

The precious sons of Zion, once weighed against pure gold, are devalued and counted merely as earthen vessels made by a potter.

Lamentations 4:2

Desperate Acts of Famine

The famine becomes so severe and devastating that compassionate women resort to boiling their own children for food.

Lamentations 4:10

Capture of the King

The anointed of Jehovah, considered the breath of the people's nostrils, is captured in the pits of their pursuers.

Lamentations 4:20

Word-for-word literal translation with Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and audio.