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Lamentations 4

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1How 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.

2The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, How are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

3Even 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.

4The 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.

5Those who did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: Those who were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

6For 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.

7Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.

8Their 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.

9Those 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.

10The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children; They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

11Yahweh has accomplished his wrath, he has poured out his fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations.

12The 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.

13[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.

14They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, So that men can't touch their garments.

15Depart! 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].

16The 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.

17Our eyes do yet fail [in looking] for our vain help: In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.

18They 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.

19Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky: They chased us on the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

20The 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.

21Rejoice 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.

22The 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.

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Anger: Anger of God Lamentations 4:11

The LORD has exhausted His wrath; He has poured out His fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has consumed her foundations.

Art: Primitive of the Potter Lamentations 4:2

How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!

Arts of The: Potter Lamentations 4:2

How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!

Bread: Broken for Use Lamentations 4:4

The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.

Breastfeeding Lamentations 4:3

Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like an ostrich in the wilderness.

Christian Minister: False and Corrupt Lamentations 4:13, 14

But this was for the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in her midst. / They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.

Church: Sanctuary Lamentations 4:1

How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.

Compared To Saints: Gold Lamentations 4:2

How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!

Confidence: False Lamentations 4:17

All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us.

Deserts: Infested with Robbers Lamentations 4:19

Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.

Eagle: The Swift Flight of Lamentations 4:19

Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.

Edomites: Prophecies Concerning Lamentations 4:21, 22

So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself. / O Daughter of Zion, your punishment is complete; He will not prolong your exile. But He will punish your iniquity, O Daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins.

Famine: Caused: Blackness of the Skin Lamentations 4:8

But now their appearance is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.

Famine: Caused: Wasting of the Body Lamentations 4:8

But now their appearance is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.

Famine: Described Lamentations 4:4–10

The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any. / Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps. / The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.

Famine: Often on Account of Sin Lamentations 4:4–6

The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any. / Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps. / The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her.

Fraternity: The Nazarites, Vows of Lamentations 4:7

Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.

Gold: Figurative Lamentations 4:1

How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.

Gold: Liable to Grow Dim Lamentations 4:1

How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.

Malice: General Scriptures Concerning Lamentations 4:3, 4

Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like an ostrich in the wilderness. / The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.

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