The Lamentations of Jeremiah 4

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1 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 ⚑

King James Version (1769) with Apocrypha · Crosswire Bible Society / eBible.org (standard text of 1769) · Public Domain

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · public domain