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Lamentations 4
New International Version
Lamentations 4
New International Version
4 [a]How the gold has lost its luster,
the fine gold become dull!
The sacred gems are scattered
at every street corner.(A)
2 How the precious children of Zion,(B)
once worth their weight in gold,
are now considered as pots of clay,
the work of a potter’s hands!
3 Even jackals offer their breasts
to nurse their young,
but my people have become heartless
like ostriches in the desert.(C)
4 Because of thirst(D) the infant’s tongue
sticks to the roof of its mouth;(E)
the children beg for bread,
but no one gives it to them.(F)
5 Those who once ate delicacies
are destitute in the streets.
Those brought up in royal purple(G)
now lie on ash heaps.(H)
6 The punishment of my people
is greater than that of Sodom,(I)
which was overthrown in a moment
without a hand turned to help her.
7 Their princes were brighter than snow
and whiter than milk,
their bodies more ruddy than rubies,
their appearance like lapis lazuli.
8 But now they are blacker(J) than soot;
they are not recognized in the streets.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones;(K)
it has become as dry as a stick.
9 Those killed by the sword are better off
than those who die of famine;(L)
racked with hunger, they waste away
for lack of food from the field.(M)
10 With their own hands compassionate women
have cooked their own children,(N)
who became their food
when my people were destroyed.
11 The Lord has given full vent to his wrath;(O)
he has poured out(P) his fierce anger.(Q)
He kindled a fire(R) in Zion
that consumed her foundations.(S)
12 The kings of the earth did not believe,
nor did any of the peoples of the world,
that enemies and foes could enter
the gates of Jerusalem.(T)
13 But it happened because of the sins of her prophets
and the iniquities of her priests,(U)
who shed within her
the blood(V) of the righteous.
14 Now they grope through the streets
as if they were blind.(W)
They are so defiled with blood(X)
that no one dares to touch their garments.
15 “Go away! You are unclean!” people cry to them.
“Away! Away! Don’t touch us!”
When they flee and wander(Y) about,
people among the nations say,
“They can stay here no longer.”(Z)
16 The Lord himself has scattered them;
he no longer watches over them.(AA)
The priests are shown no honor,
the elders(AB) no favor.(AC)
17 Moreover, our eyes failed,
looking in vain(AD) for help;(AE)
from our towers we watched
for a nation(AF) that could not save us.
18 People stalked us at every step,
so we could not walk in our streets.
Our end was near, our days were numbered,
for our end had come.(AG)
19 Our pursuers were swifter
than eagles(AH) in the sky;
they chased us(AI) over the mountains
and lay in wait for us in the desert.(AJ)
20 The Lord’s anointed,(AK) our very life breath,
was caught in their traps.(AL)
We thought that under his shadow(AM)
we would live among the nations.
Footnotes
- Lamentations 4:1 This chapter is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Lamentations 4
La Bible du Semeur
Lamentations 4
La Bible du Semeur
Quatrième élégie : la déchéance de Sion
Le peuple est brisé
4 Comment[a] ! L’or s’est terni !
L’or pur s’est altéré !
Les pierres saintes[b] ╵ont été dispersées
à tous les coins de rues !
2 Comment se fait-il donc ╵que les précieux fils de Sion
estimés comme de l’or fin
soient maintenant considérés ╵comme des pots d’argile,
ouvrages d’un potier[c] ?
3 Regardez les chacals : ╵voyez comment les mères
allaitent leurs petits ╵en tendant leur mamelle.
La communauté de mon peuple ╵est devenue aussi cruelle
que les autruches du désert[d].
4 La langue du bébé
s’attache à son palais, ╵tellement il a soif.
Les tout petits enfants ╵réclament quelque nourriture
et nul ne leur en donne.
5 Ceux qui, auparavant, ╵mangeaient des mets exquis,
expirent dans les rues,
et ceux qui ont été ╵élevés dans la pourpre
se couchent maintenant ╵sur un tas de fumier.
6 La communauté de mon peuple ╵a commis un péché
plus grand que celui de Sodome[e]
qui a été anéantie ╵en un instant,
et sans qu’un homme ╵porte la main contre elle[f].
7 Les princes de Sion, ╵ils étaient plus purs que la neige
et plus blancs que du lait,
leurs corps étaient vermeils ╵bien plus que le corail,
leurs veines de saphir.
8 Leur aspect est plus sombre, ╵à présent, que la suie,
nul ne les reconnaît ╵maintenant dans les rues.
La peau leur colle aux os,
elle est devenue sèche ╵comme du bois.
9 Les victimes du glaive ╵sont plus heureuses
que les victimes ╵de la famine :
celles-ci dépérissent, ╵tenaillées par la faim,
car les produits des champs ╵leur font défaut.
10 De tendres femmes, ╵de leurs mains ont fait cuire
la chair de leurs enfants
pour s’en nourrir,
à cause du désastre ╵qui a atteint ╵la communauté de mon peuple[g].
Le juste jugement de Dieu
11 L’Eternel a assouvi son courroux.
Oui, il a déversé ╵son ardente colère,
il a allumé un feu dans Sion
qui en a consumé les fondations.
12 Aucun roi de la terre
ni aucun habitant du monde ╵n’a cru que l’adversaire,
que l’ennemi, ╵pourrait franchir
les portes de Jérusalem.
13 Cela est arrivé ╵à cause des péchés ╵de ses prophètes
et des fautes des prêtres
qui répandaient au milieu d’elle
le sang des justes.
14 Mais maintenant, ╵ils errent dans les rues ╵tout comme des aveugles,
ils sont souillés de sang
si bien que l’on ne peut
toucher leurs vêtements.
15 « Allez-vous en, impurs, ╵voilà ce qu’on leur crie.
Hors d’ici, hors d’ici, ╵et ne nous touchez pas ! »
Et lorsqu’ils fuient ainsi ╵en errant çà et là, ╵les gens des autres peuples disent :
« Qu’ils ne restent pas en ce lieu[h] ! »
16 L’Eternel en personne ╵les a disséminés,
il ne veut plus les voir.
On n’a pas respecté les prêtres
ni eu d’égards ╵pour les responsables du peuple[i].
L’heure de l’abandon
17 Nos yeux se consument encore
dans l’attente d’une aide, ╵mais c’est en vain.
De nos postes de guet ╵nous attendions une nation
qui ne nous a pas secourus[j].
18 Nos ennemis épient ╵la trace de nos pas,
et nous ne pouvons plus ╵circuler dans nos rues,
notre fin est prochaine, ╵nos jours sont à leur terme.
Oui, notre fin arrive.
19 Ceux qui nous poursuivaient ╵ont été plus rapides
que l’aigle dans le ciel.
Ils nous ont pourchassés ╵avec acharnement ╵sur les montagnes,
ils se sont embusqués ╵contre nous au désert.
20 Le roi qui de la part de l’Eternel ╵avait reçu l’onction[k], ╵et dont dépendait notre vie,
a été capturé ╵grâce à leurs pièges,
alors que nous disions :
« Nous vivrons sous sa protection ╵au milieu des nations. »
21 Tu peux être ravie, ╵communauté d’Edom, ╵et exulter[l],
toi qui habites ╵au pays d’Outs[m] :
à toi aussi, ╵on passera la coupe,
tu seras enivrée ╵et tu te mettras toute nue.
22 Ton châtiment aura sa fin, ╵ô communauté de Sion,
Dieu ne te déportera plus.
Communauté d’Edom, ╵il te fera payer tes fautes,
et il fera paraître ╵tes péchés au grand jour.
Footnotes
- 4.1 Autre traduction : hélas !
- 4.1 Selon certains, des pierres précieuses qui avaient fait partie du trésor du Temple. Pour d’autres, un symbole du peuple de Dieu (voir v. 2).
- 4.2 Voir Jr 18 et 19.
- 4.3 Sur l’autruche cruelle, voir Jb 39.14-16.
- 4.6 Sur Sodome, voir Gn 19.24-25 et Jr 23.14 ; 49.18 ; 50.40.
- 4.6 Autre traduction : sans que quelqu’un se donne la peine de la secourir.
- 4.10 Voir 2 R 6.28-29.
- 4.15 Voir Lv 13.45.
- 4.16 Autre traduction : les vieillards.
- 4.17 Probablement l’Egypte (voir Jr 29.16 ; 37.5-10).
- 4.20 Il s’agit de Sédécias (2 R 25.1-6 ; Jr 39.4-7 ; 52.6-11).
- 4.21 Lorsque Jérusalem est tombée, les Edomites ont participé à son pillage (Ez 25.12-14).
- 4.21 Outs: pays à l’est du Jourdain, peut-être Edom, au sud-est de la mer Morte (Gn 36.28 ; voir Jb 1.1 et note).
Lamentations 4
New King James Version
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
Lamentations 4
English Standard Version
Lamentations 4
English Standard Version
The Holy Stones Lie Scattered
4 (A)How the gold has grown dim,
how the pure gold is changed!
The holy stones lie scattered
(B)at the head of every street.
2 The precious sons of Zion,
worth their weight in (C)fine gold,
how they are regarded as (D)earthen pots,
the work of a potter's hands!
3 Even jackals offer the breast;
they nurse their young;
but the daughter of my people has become cruel,
like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4 The tongue of the nursing infant (E)sticks
to the roof of its mouth for thirst;
(F)the children beg for food,
but no one gives to them.
5 Those who once feasted on delicacies
perish in the streets;
(G)those who were brought up in purple
embrace ash heaps.
6 (H)For the chastisement[a] of the daughter of my people has been greater
than the punishment[b] of Sodom,
(I)which was overthrown in a moment,
and no hands were wrung for her.[c]
7 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]
8 (J)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.
9 Happier were the victims of the sword
than the victims of hunger,
who wasted away, pierced
by lack of the fruits of the field.
10 (K)The hands of (L)compassionate women
(M)have boiled their own children;
(N)they became their food
during the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 (O)The Lord gave full vent to his wrath;
he poured out his hot anger,
and (P)he kindled a fire in Zion
that consumed its foundations.
12 (Q)The kings of the earth did not believe,
nor any of the inhabitants of the world,
that foe or enemy could enter
the gates of Jerusalem.
13 This was for (R)the sins of her prophets
and (S)the iniquities of her priests,
who shed in the midst of her
the blood of the righteous.
14 (T)They wandered, blind, through the streets;
they were so defiled with blood
(U)that no one was able to touch
their garments.
15 “Away! (V)Unclean!” people cried at them.
“Away! Away! Do not touch!”
So they became fugitives and wanderers;
people said among the nations,
“They shall stay with us no longer.”
16 (W)The Lord himself[f] has scattered them;
he will regard them no more;
(X)no honor was shown to the priests,
(Y)no favor to the elders.
17 (Z)Our eyes failed, ever watching
(AA)vainly for help;
in our watching we watched
for (AB)a nation which could not save.
18 (AC)They dogged our steps
so that we could not walk in our streets;
(AD)our end drew near; our days were numbered,
for our end had come.
19 Our pursuers were (AE)swifter
than the eagles in the heavens;
they chased us on the mountains;
they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
20 (AF)The breath of our nostrils, (AG)the Lord's anointed,
was captured (AH)in their pits,
of whom we said, (AI)“Under his shadow
we shall live among the nations.”
21 (AJ)Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom,
you who dwell in (AK)the land of Uz;
but to you also (AL)the cup shall pass;
you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare.
22 (AM)The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter of Zion, is accomplished;
he will keep you in exile no longer;[g]
but (AN)your iniquity, O daughter of Edom, he will punish;
he will uncover your sins.
Footnotes
- Lamentations 4:6 Or iniquity
- Lamentations 4:6 Or sin
- Lamentations 4:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Lamentations 4:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Lamentations 4:7 Hebrew lapis lazuli
- Lamentations 4:16 Hebrew The face of the Lord
- Lamentations 4:22 Or he will not exile you again
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
La Bible du Semeur (BDS)
La Bible Du Semeur (The Bible of the Sower) Copyright © 1992, 1999 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.