Lamentations 4
International Children’s Bible
The Attack on Jerusalem
4 See how the gold has lost its shine!
See how the good gold has changed!
The stones of the Temple are scattered
at every street corner.
2 The precious people of Jerusalem
were more valuable than gold.
But now they are thought of as clay jars
made by the hands of a potter.
3 Even wild dogs give their milk
to feed their young.
But my people are cruel
like ostriches in the desert.
4 The baby is so thirsty
that his tongue sticks to the roof of his mouth.
Children beg for bread.
But no one breaks off a piece to share with them.
5 Those who once ate fine foods
are now starving in the streets.
The people who grew up wearing nice clothes
now pick through trash piles.
6 My people have been punished
more than Sodom was.
Sodom was destroyed suddenly.
No hands reached out to help her.
7 Our princes were purer than snow.
They were whiter than milk.
Their bodies were redder than rubies.
Their faces shined like sapphires.
8 But now they are blacker than coal.
No one even recognizes them in the streets.
Their skin is stretched over their bones.
It is as dry as wood.
9 Those people who were killed by the sword had it better
than those killed by hunger.
They starved in pain and died
because there was no food from the field.
10 With their own hands kind women
cooked their own children.
The children became food for their parents.
This happened when my people were destroyed.
11 The Lord turned loose all of his anger.
He poured out his strong anger.
He set fire to Jerusalem.
It burned down to the foundations.
12 Kings of the earth and people of the world
could not believe it.
They could not believe that enemies
could come through the gates of Jerusalem.
13 But it happened because her prophets had sinned.
And her priests had done evil.
They killed in the city
the people who did what was right.
14 They wandered in the streets
like blind men.
They became dirty with blood.
So no one could touch their clothes.
15 “Go away! You are unclean,” people shouted at them.
“Get away! Get away! Do not touch us!”
So they left and wandered around.
The other nations said, “Don’t stay here.”
16 The Lord himself scattered them.
He did not look after them anymore.
He did not respect the priests.
He showed no mercy to the elders.
17 Also, our eyes grew tired
looking for help that never came.
We kept watch from our towers
for a nation to save us.
18 Our enemies hunted us
so we could not even walk in the streets.
Our end came near. Our time was up.
Our end came.
19 The men who chased us
were faster than eagles in the sky.
They ran us into the mountains.
They ambushed us in the desert.
20 The Lord’s appointed king, who was our very breath,
was caught in their traps.
We had said about him, “We will be protected by him
among the nations.”
21 Be happy and glad, people of Edom,
you who live in the land of Uz.
But the Lord’s anger is like a cup of wine that you also will have to drink.
Then you will get drunk on it and make yourselves naked.
22 Your punishment is complete, Jerusalem.
He will not keep you in captivity any longer.
But the Lord will punish your wrongs, people of Edom.
He will uncover your sins.
Lamentations 4
King James Version
4 How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3 Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4 The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.
5 They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
6 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.
7 Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
8 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.
9 They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.
10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 The Lord hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.
12 The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.
13 For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,
14 They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.
15 They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there.
16 The anger of the Lord hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.
17 As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.
18 They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
19 Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
20 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.
21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.
22 The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.
Lamentations 4
New King James Version
The Degradation of Zion
4 How the gold has become dim!
How changed the fine gold!
The stones of the sanctuary are [a]scattered
At the head of every street.
2 The precious sons of Zion,
[b]Valuable as fine gold,
How they are [c]regarded (A)as clay pots,
The work of the hands of the potter!
3 Even the jackals present their breasts
To nurse their young;
But the daughter of my people is cruel,
(B)Like ostriches in the wilderness.
4 The tongue of the infant clings
To the roof of its mouth for thirst;
(C)The young children ask for bread,
But no one breaks it for them.
5 Those who ate delicacies
Are desolate in the streets;
Those who were brought up in scarlet
(D)Embrace ash heaps.
6 The punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people
Is greater than the punishment of the (E)sin of Sodom,
Which was (F)overthrown in a moment,
With no hand to help her!
7 Her [d]Nazirites were [e]brighter than snow
And whiter than milk;
They were more ruddy in body than rubies,
Like sapphire in their [f]appearance.
8 Now their appearance is blacker than soot;
They go unrecognized in the streets;
(G)Their skin clings to their bones,
It has become as dry as wood.
9 Those slain by the sword are better off
Than those who die of hunger;
For these (H)pine away,
Stricken for lack of the fruits of the (I)field.
10 The hands of the (J)compassionate women
Have [g]cooked their (K)own children;
They became (L)food for them
In the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 The Lord has fulfilled His fury,
(M)He has poured out His fierce anger.
(N)He kindled a fire in Zion,
And it has devoured its foundations.
12 The kings of the earth,
And all inhabitants of the world,
Would not have believed
That the adversary and the enemy
Could (O)enter the gates of Jerusalem—
13 (P)Because of the sins of her prophets
And the iniquities of her priests,
(Q)Who shed in her midst
The blood of the just.
14 They wandered blind in the streets;
(R)They have defiled themselves with blood,
(S)So that no one would touch their garments.
15 They cried out to them,
“Go away, (T)unclean!
Go away, go away,
Do not touch us!”
When they fled and wandered,
Those among the nations said,
“They shall no longer dwell here.”
16 The [h]face of the Lord scattered them;
He no longer regards them.
(U)The people do not respect the priests
Nor show favor to the elders.
17 Still (V)our eyes failed us,
Watching vainly for our help;
In our watching we watched
For a nation that could not save us.
18 (W)They [i]tracked our steps
So that we could not walk in our streets.
(X)Our end was near;
Our days were over,
For our end had come.
19 Our pursuers were (Y)swifter
Than the eagles of the heavens.
They pursued us on the mountains
And lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
20 The (Z)breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord,
(AA)Was caught in their pits,
Of whom we said, “Under his shadow
We shall live among the nations.”
21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of (AB)Edom,
You who dwell in the land of Uz!
(AC)The cup shall also pass over to you
And you shall become drunk and make yourself naked.
22 (AD)The punishment of your iniquity [j]is accomplished,
O daughter of Zion;
He will no longer send you into captivity.
(AE)He will punish your iniquity,
O daughter of Edom;
He will uncover your sins!
Footnotes
- Lamentations 4:1 Lit. poured out
- Lamentations 4:2 Lit. Weighed against
- Lamentations 4:2 reckoned
- Lamentations 4:7 Or nobles
- Lamentations 4:7 Or purer
- Lamentations 4:7 Lit. polishing
- Lamentations 4:10 boiled
- Lamentations 4:16 Tg. anger
- Lamentations 4:18 Lit. hunted
- Lamentations 4:22 has been completed
Baroorashadii Yeremyaah 4
Somali Bible
4 Dahabkii sidee buu u dhalaal beelay! Dahabkii ugu wada saafiyaysnaase sidee buu u beddelmay!
Dhagxantii meesha quduuska ahna waxaa lagu daadshay rukunka jid kasta.
2 Wiilashii Siyoon ee qaaliga ahaa oo dahabka saafiga ah la mid ahaa
Sidee baa loogu tiriyey dheryo dhoobo ah oo uu dheryasameeyuhu gacmaha ku sameeyey oo kale!
3 Xataa dawacooyinku naasahay soo bixiyaan, oo dhallaankooda way nuujiyaan,
Laakiinse dadkaygu way u naxariis darnaadeen sida gorayada cidlada joogta.
4 Caanonuugga carrabkiisu wuxuu dhabxanagga ugu dhegaa oon daraaddiis
Carruurta yaryaruna kibis bay baryaan, laakiinse ciduna uma gooyso.
5 Kuwii cunto macaan cuni jiray jidadkay ku baabba'aan.
Kuwii dharka cas ku soo korayna meesha digaday ku dhegaan.
6 Ciqaabta xumaanta dadkaygu way ka sii weyn tahay ciqaabtii dembigii Sodom,
Taasoo daqiiqad qudha lagu afgembiyey iyadoo aan ciduna far saarin.
7 Kuweedii ahaa Nadiir Ilaah loo soocay barafka cad way ka sii daahirsanaayeen, oo caanahana way ka sii caddaayeen,
Oo jidhkooduna murjaanta cas wuu ka sii guduudnaa, oo midabkooduna wuxuu ahaa sidii safayr oo kale.
8 Jaahoodu dhuxul wuu ka sii madow yahay, oo markay jidadka marayaanna lama garto.
Haraggoodii lafuhuu ku dhegaa oo waa engegay, oo wuxuu noqday sidii qori oo kale.
9 Kuwa seefta lagu laayo waa ka roon yihiin kuwa gaajada u le'da,
Waayo, kuwanu way caatoobaan oo abaar bay u bakhtiyayaan iyagoo midhihii beeraha waayay.
10 Naagihii raxiimka ahaa gacmahoodii waxay kariyeen carruurtoodii,
Oo waxay iyagu u noqdeen cuntadoodii markii la baabbi'iyey dadkayga.
11 Rabbigu cadhadiisii buu sii daayay, oo xanaaqiisii kululaa wuu daadiyey.
Siyoonna dab buu ka dhex shiday oo aasaaskeedii wuu baabbi'iyey.
12 Boqorrada dhulka iyo dadka dunida deggan oo dhammuba ma ay rumaysteen
In cadowga iyo nacabku ay irdaha Yeruusaalem geli doonaan.
13 Sababteeduna waxay ahayd dembiyadii nebiyadeeda iyo xumaatooyinkii wadaaddadeeda
Kuwaasoo dhexdeeda dhiiggii kuwa xaqa ah ku daadshay.
14 Sidii iyagoo indha la' ayay jidadka iska daba wareegaan oo dhiig bay ku nijaasaysan yihiin,
Sidaas daraaddeed dharkooda lama taaban karo.
15 Waxaa iyaga loogu qayliyey, War taga, nijaas yahay! Taga, taga, oo hana taabanina.
Markay carareen oo ay iska daba wareegeen ayaa quruumaha waxaa laga dhex yidhi, Iyagu halkan innaba sii degganaan maayaan.
16 Rabbigu cadhadiisuu ku kala firdhiyey, oo mar dambe fiiro u lahaan maayo.
Wadaaddadii lama sharfin, oo odayaashiina looma nixin.
17 Intaannu waxtarla'aan caawimaad u fiirinaynay ayaa indhihii na daaleen.
Quruuntii aannu fiirinaynay waxay ahayd quruun aan na badbaadin karin.
18 Way na raadraadiyaan, oo jidadkayagana ma mari karno.
Ugudambaystayadii way soo dhowaatay. Cimrigayagii wuu dhammaaday, waayo, ugudambaystayadii way timid.
19 Kuwii na eryanayay gorgorka samada way ka sii dheereeyeen. Waxay nagu eryadeen buuraha dushooda, oo cidlada dhexdeeda way noogu gabbadeen.
20 Kii sankayaga neefta u ahaa oo ahaa kii Rabbigu subkay ayaa godadkoodii lagu qabtay,
Kaasoo aannu nidhi, Quruumaha dhexdooda ayaannu hooskiisa ku sii degganaanaynaa.
21 Reer Edom oo dalka Cuus degganow, farax oo reyree.
Koobku adiguu kuu soo gudbi doonaa, waanad sakhraami doontaa, oo waad isqaawin doontaa.
22 Magaalada Siyoonay, ciqaabtii xumaantaadu way dhammaatay.
Isagu innaba mar dambe maxaabiis ahaan kuu kaxaysan maayo.
Reer Edomow, xumaantaada wuu soo ciqaabi doonaa,
Oo dembiyadaadana daahuu ka qaadi doonaa.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
© 1979, 2008 Society for International Ministries-Kenya