Lamentations 44LamentationsThe siege remembered and a final prayerMajority Standard Bible

Majority Standard BibleBerean Standard Bible

1. The Distress of Zion

2. 1MSBHow the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.BSBBSB: How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.
3. 2MSBHow 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!BSBBSB: 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!
4. 3MSBEven jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like an ostrich in the wilderness.BSBBSB: Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like an ostrich in the wilderness.
5. 4MSBThe nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.BSBBSB: 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.
6. 5MSBThose who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.BSBBSB: Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps.
7. 6MSBThe 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.BSBBSB: 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.
8. 7MSBHer dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.BSBBSB: Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.
9. 8MSBBut 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.BSBBSB: 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.
10. 9MSBThose slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.BSBBSB: Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.
11. 10MSBThe hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.BSBBSB: The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
12. 11MSBThe 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.BSBBSB: 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.
13. 12MSBThe kings of the earth did not believe, nor any people of the world, that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.BSBBSB: The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any people of the world, that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
14. 13MSBBut this was for the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in her midst.BSBBSB: 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.
15. 14MSBThey wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.BSBBSB: They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments.
16. 15MSB“Go away! Unclean!” men shouted at them. “Away, away! Do not touch us!” So they fled and wandered. Among the nations it was said, “They can stay here no longer.”BSBBSB: “Go away! Unclean!” men shouted at them. “Away, away! Do not touch us!” So they fled and wandered. Among the nations it was said, “They can stay here no longer.”
17. 16MSBThe presence of the LORD has scattered them; He regards them no more. The priests are shown no honor; the elders find no favor.BSBBSB: The presence of the LORD has scattered them; He regards them no more. The priests are shown no honor; the elders find no favor.
18. 17MSBAll 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.BSBBSB: 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.
19. 18MSBThey stalked our every step, so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near, our time ran out, for our end had come!BSBBSB: They stalked our every step, so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end drew near, our time ran out, for our end had come!
20. 19MSBThose who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.BSBBSB: Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.
21. 20MSBThe LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”BSBBSB: The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”
22. 21MSBSo 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.BSBBSB: 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.
23. 22MSBO 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.BSBBSB: 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.