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The punishment inflicted on my people
    has been greater than that of Sodom,
which was overthrown in an instant
    without a hand being lifted to help her.
Her princes were once brighter than snow
    and whiter than milk.
Their bodies were more ruddy than coral,
    more precious than sapphire.
Now their faces are blacker than soot,
    and no one recognizes them in the streets.
Their skin has shriveled tightly over their bones,
    as dry as a stick.

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The punishment of my people
    is greater than that of Sodom,(A)
which was overthrown in a moment
    without a hand turned to help her.

Their princes were brighter than snow
    and whiter than milk,
their bodies more ruddy than rubies,
    their appearance like lapis lazuli.

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

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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.

Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:

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.

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(A)For the chastisement[a] of the daughter of my people has been greater
    than the punishment[b] of Sodom,
(B)which was overthrown in a moment,
    and no hands were wrung for her.[c]

Her princes were purer than snow,
    whiter than milk;
their bodies were more ruddy than coral,
    the beauty of their form[d] was like sapphire.[e]

(C)Now their face is blacker than soot;
    they are not recognized in the streets;
their skin has shriveled on their bones;
    it has become as dry as wood.

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 4:6 Or iniquity
  2. Lamentations 4:6 Or sin
  3. Lamentations 4:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  4. Lamentations 4:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  5. Lamentations 4:7 Hebrew lapis lazuli