Famine and Ruin
Lamentations 4
The chapter contrasts Jerusalem's former glory, her gold, sacred stones, and honored sons, with her present degradation: children die of thirst and hunger, compassionate women boil their own children for food, and priests and prophets bear guilt for shedding righteous blood in the city. It closes by declaring that Sion's punishment is completed, while warning the daughter of Edom, who rejoiced over her, that her own iniquity will yet be exposed.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonHOW gold can be tarnished! How pure silver can be changed! Holy stones were thrown down at the head of all the streets.
BrentonAleph. How will the gold be tarnished, and the fine silver changed! the sacred stones have been poured forth at the top of all the streets.
GreekΑΛΕΦ. Πῶς ἀμαυρωθήσεται χρυσίον, ἀλλοιωθήσεται τὸ ἀργύριον τὸ ἀγαθόν; ἐξεχύθησαν λίθοι ἅγιοι ἐπʼ ἀρχῆς πασῶν ἐξόδων.
KJVHow 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.
JPSHow is the gold become dim! How is the most fine gold changed! The hallowed stones are poured out At the head of every street.
2
ThomsonThe sons of Sion who were precious, more precious than gold; how they have been accounted as earthen vessels, the works of a potter’s hands.
BrentonBeth. The precious sons of Zion, who were equalled in value with gold, how are they counted as earthen vessels, the works of the hands of the potter!
GreekΒΗΘ. Οἱ υἱοὶ Σιὼν οἱ τίμιοι, οἱ ἐπῃρμένοι ἐν χρυσίῳ, πῶς ἐλογίσθησαν εἰς ἀγγεῖα ὀστράκινα, ἔργα χειρῶν κεραμέως;
KJVThe precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
JPSThe precious sons of Zion, Comparable to fine gold, How are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, The work of the hands of the potter!
3
ThomsonSurely jackals drew out the breasts; their whelps suckled the daughters of my people, to make them unnatural as the ostrich in the desert.
BrentonGimel. Nay, serpents have drawn out the breasts, they give suck to their young, the daughters of my people are incurably cruel, as an ostrich in a desert.
GreekΓΙΜΕΛ. Καί γε δράκοντες ἐξέδυσαν μαστοὺς, ἐθήλασαν σκύμνοι αὐτῶν θυγατέρας λαοῦ μου εἰς ἀνίατον, ὡς στρουθίον ἐν ἐρήμῳ.
KJVEven 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.
JPSEven the jackals 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
ThomsonThe tongue of a suckling babe cleaved to the roof of its mouth for thirst: infants asked for bread, there is none who breaketh it for them.
BrentonDaleth. The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of its mouth for thirst: the little children ask for bread, and there is none to break it to them.
GreekΔΑΛΕΘ. Ἐκολλήθη ἡ γλῶσσα θηλάζοντος πρὸς τὸν φάρυγγα αὐτοῦ ἐν δίψει, νήπια ᾔτησαν ἄρτον, ὁ διακλῶν οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς.
KJVThe 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.
JPSThe tongue of the sucking child cleaveth To the roof of his mouth for thirst; The young children ask bread, And none breaketh it unto them.
5
ThomsonThey who had fed upon dainties perished in the highways; they who had been nursed in scarlet were covered with dung.
BrentonHe. They that feed on dainties are desolate in the streets: they that used to be nursed in scarlet have clothed themselves with dung.
GreekΗ. Οἱ ἔσθοντες τὰς τρυφὰς ἠφανίσθησαν ἐν ταῖς ἐξόδοις, οἱ τιθηνούμενοι ἐπὶ κόκκων περιεβάλλοντο κοπρίας.
KJVThey that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
JPSThey that did feed on dainties Are desolate in the streets; They that were brought up in scarlet Embrace dunghills.
6
ThomsonThe transgression of the daughter of my people was greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown suddenly, without tiring hands with it.
BrentonVau. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people has been increased beyond the iniquities of Sodoma, the city that was overthrown very suddenly, and none laboured against her with their hands.
GreekΟΥΑΥ. Καὶ ἐμεγαλύνθη ἀνομία θυγατρὸς λαοῦ μου ὑπὲρ ἀνομίας Σοδόμων τῆς κατεστραμμένης ὥσπερ σπουδὴ, καὶ οὐκ ἐπόνεσαν ἐν αὐτῇ χεῖρας.
KJVFor 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.
JPSFor the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater Than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, And no hands fell upon her.
7
ThomsonHer Nazarites were purer than snow; they were whiter than milk. They were more ruddy than a sapphire. Behold their change!
BrentonZain. Her Nazarites were made purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were purified as with fire, their polishing was superior to sapphire stone.
GreekΖΑΙΝ. Ἐκαθαριώθησαν Ναζιραῖοι αὐτῆς ὑπὲρ χιόνα, ἔλαμψαν ὑπὲρ γάλα, ἐπυρώθησαν, ὑπὲρ λίθου σαπφείρου τὸ ἀπόσπασμα αὐτῶν.
KJVHer Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
JPSHer princes were purer than snow, They were whiter than milk, They were more ruddy in body than rubies, Their polishing was as of sapphire;
8
ThomsonTheir visage became blacker than soot. They are not distinguished in the streets. Their skin is shrivelled to their bones. They are withered. They are become like a stick.
BrentonHeth. Their countenance is become blacker than smoke; they are not known in the streets: their skin has cleaved to their bones; they are withered, they are become as a stick.
GreekΗΘ. Ἐσκότασεν ὑπὲρ ἀσβόλην τὸ εἶδος αὐτῶν, οὐκ ἐπεγνώσθησαν ἐν ταῖς ἐξόδοις· ἐπάγη δέρμα αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τὰ ὀστέα αὐτῶν, ἐξηράνθησαν, ἐγενήθησαν ὥσπερ ξύλον.
KJVTheir 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.
JPSTheir visage is blacker than a coal; They are not known in the streets; Their skin is shrivelled upon their bones; It is withered, it is become like a stick.
9
ThomsonThe victims of the sword are more beautiful than those slain by famine. These stalked about, pierced through for want of the fruits of the field.
BrentonTeth. The slain with the sword were better than they that were slain with hunger: they have departed, pierced through from want of the fruits of the field.
GreekΤΗΘ. Καλοὶ ἦσαν οἱ τραυματίαι ῥομφαίας, ἢ οἱ τραυματίαι λιμοῦ· ἐπορεύθησαν ἐκκεκεντημένοι ἀπὸ γεννημάτων ἀγρῶν.
KJVThey 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.
JPSThey that are slain with the sword are better Than they that are slain with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, For want of the fruits of the field.
10
ThomsonThe hands of tender-hearted women boiled their own children; these were food for them in the extreme distress of the daughter of my people.
BrentonJod. The hands of tender-hearted women have sodden their own children: they became meat for them in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
GreekΙΩΔ. Χεῖρες γυναικῶν οἰκτιρμόνων ἥψησαν τὰ παιδία αὐτῶν, ἐγενήθησαν εἰς βρῶσιν αὐταῖς, ἐν τῷ συντρίμματι τῆς θυγατρὸς τοῦ λαοῦ μου.
KJVThe hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
JPSThe hands of women full of compassion Have sodden their own children; They were their food In the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11
ThomsonThe Lord hath executed His wrath—He hath poured out His fierce anger. He hath kindled a fire in Sion, which hath devoured her very foundations.
BrentonChaph. The Lord has accomplished his wrath; he has poured out his fierce anger, and has kindled a fire in Sion, and it has devoured her foundations.
GreekΧΑΦ. Συνετέλεσε Κύριος θυμὸν αὐτοῦ, ἐξέχεε θυμὸν ὀργῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνῆψε πῦρ ἐν Σιὼν, καὶ κατέφαγε τὰ θεμέλια αὐτῆς.
KJVThe 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.
JPSThe LORD hath accomplished His fury, He hath poured out His fierce anger; And He hath kindled a fire in Zion, Which hath devoured the foundations thereof.
12
ThomsonThe kings of the earth, all the inhabitants of the world, did not believe that an enemy and a destroyer could have entered the gates of Jerusalem.
BrentonLamed. The kings of the earth, even all that dwell in the world, believed not that an enemy and oppressor would enter through the gates of Jerusalem.
GreekΛΑΜΕΔ. Οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν βασιλεῖς γῆς, πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὴν οἰκουμένην, ὅτι εἰσελεύσεται ἐχθρὸς καὶ ἐκθλίβων διὰ τῶν πυλῶν Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVThe 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.
JPSThe kings of the earth believed not, Neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter Into the gates of Jerusalem.
13
ThomsonBecause of the sins of her prophets, the iniquities of her priests, of them who were shedding innocent blood in the midst of her,
BrentonMem. For the sins of her prophets, and iniquities of her priests, who shed righteous blood in the midst of her,
GreekΜΗΜ. Ἐξ ἁμαρτιῶν προφητῶν αὐτῆς, ἀδικιῶν ἱερέων αὐτῆς, τῶν ἐκχεόντων αἷμα δίκαιον ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς.
KJVFor the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,
JPSIt is because of 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
Thomsonher watchmen shuddered in the streets; they were polluted with blood, for they could not help but touch their clothes. Stand off from the unclean! Call to them, Stand off!
BrentonNun. her watchmen staggered in the streets, they were defiled with blood in their weakness, they touched their raiment with it.
GreekΝΟΥΝ. Ἐσαλεύθησαν ἐγρήγοροι αὐτῆς ἐν ταῖς ἐξόδοις, ἐμολύνθησαν ἐν αἵματι ἐν τῷ μὴ δύνασθαι αὐτοὺς, ἥψαντο ἐνδυμάτων αὐτῶν.
KJV—
JPS—
15
ThomsonStand off! touch not. Because they had been touched they shuddered. Say among the nations [because of all this]: Let them no longer sojourn there.
BrentonSamech. Depart ye from the unclean ones: call ye them: depart, depart, touch them not: for they are on fire, yea, they stagger: say ye among the nations, They shall no more sojourn there.
GreekΣΑΜΕΧ. Ἀπόστητε ἀκαθάρτων, καλέσατε αὐτοὺς, ἀπόστητε, ἀπόστητε, μὴ ἅπτεσθε, ὅτι ἀνήφθησαν, καί γε ἐσαλεύθησαν· εἴπατε ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, οὐ μὴ προσθῶσι τοῦ παροικεῖν.
KJVThey 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.
JPS’Depart ye! unclean! ’ men cried unto them, ‘Depart, depart, touch not’; Yea, they fled away and wandered; Men said among the nations: ‘They shall no more sojourn here.’
16
ThomsonThe presence of the Lord was their portion; He will no more look upon them: they paid no respect to the presence of priests; on prophets they had no compassion.
BrentonAin. The presence of the Lord was their portion; but he will not again look upon them: they regarded not the person of the priests, they pitied not the prophets.
GreekΑΙΝ. Πρόσωπον Κυρίου μερὶς αὐτῶν, οὐ προσθήσει ἐπιβλέψαι αὐτοῖς· πρόσωπον ἱερέων οὐκ ἔλαβον, προφήτας οὐκ ἠλέησαν.
KJV—
JPS—
17
ThomsonWhile we yet existed our eyes failed looking in vain for our help. When we looked out, we looked to a nation that could not save.
BrentonPhe. While we yet lived our eyes failed, while we looked in vain for our help. Tsade. We looked to a nation that could not save.
GreekΦΗ. Ἔτι ὄντων ἡμῶν ἐξέλιπον οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ἡμῶν, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν μάταια ἀποσκοπευόντων ἡμῶν.
KJVAs 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.
JPSAs for us, our eyes do yet fail For our vain help; In our watching we have watched For a nation that could not save.
18
ThomsonWe have hunted for our little ones that they might not walk in our streets. Our time is come. Our days are fulfilled. Our time is at hand.
BrentonWe have hunted for our little ones, that they should not walk in our streets. Koph. Our time has drawn nigh, our days are fulfilled, our time is come.
GreekΤΣΑΔΗ. Ἀπεσκοπεύσαμεν εἰς ἔθνος οὐ σῶζον, ἐθηρεύσαμεν μικροὺς ἡμῶν, τοῦ μὴ πορεύεσθαι ἐν ταῖς πλατείαις ἡμῶν.
KJVThey hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
JPSThey hunt our steps, That we cannot go in our broad places; Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; For our end is come.
19
ThomsonThey who pursue us are swifter than eagles in the air; they overtook us on the mountains. They lay in wait for us in the desert.
BrentonOur pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky, they flew on the mountains, in the wilderness they laid wait for us.
GreekΚΩΦ. Ἤγγικεν ὁ καιρὸς ἡμῶν, ἐπληρώθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι ἡμῶν, πάρεστιν ὁ καιρὸς ἡμῶν. Κοῦφοι ἐγένοντο οἱ διώκοντες ἡμᾶς ὑπὲρ ἀετοὺς οὐρανοῦ, ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων ἐξέπτησαν, ἐν ἐρήμῳ ἐνήδρευσαν ἡμᾶς.
KJVOur persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
JPSOur pursuers were swifter Than the eagles of the heaven; They chased us upon the mountains, They lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
20
ThomsonIn their slaughters is comprehended the breath of our nostrils, our anointed Lord, of whom we said, Under His shadow we shall live among the nations.
BrentonRechs. The breath of our nostrils, our anointed Lord, was taken in their destructive snares, of whom we said, In his shadow we shall live among the Gentiles.
GreekΡΗΧΣ. Πνεῦμα προσώπου ἡμῶν χριστὸς Κύριος συνελήφθη ἐν ταῖς διαφθοραῖς αὐτῶν, οὗ εἴπαμεν, ἐν τῇ σκιᾶ αὐτοῦ ζησόμεθα ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι.
KJVThe 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.
JPSThe 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 nations.’
21
ThomsonRejoice and be glad, O daughter of Idumea who dwellest in the land. To thee however the cup of the Lord will come and thou shalt drink and vomit.
BrentonChsen. Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Idumea, that dwellest in the land: yet the cup of the Lord shall pass through to thee: thou shalt be drunken, and pour forth.
GreekΧΣΕΝ. Χαῖρε καὶ εὐφραίνου θύγατερ Ἰδουμαίας ἡ κατοικοῦσα ἐπὶ γῆς, καί γε ἐπὶ σὲ διελεύσεται τὸ ποτήριον Κυρίου, μεθυσθήσῃ καὶ ἀποχεεῖς.
KJVRejoice 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.
JPSRejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, That dwellest in the land of Uz: The cup shall pass over unto thee also; Thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.
22
ThomsonO daughter of Sion, thine iniquity is done away. He will no more banish thee. He hath visited thine iniquities, O daughter of Edom. He hath exposed thee for thy sins.
BrentonThau. O daughter of Sion, thine iniquity has come to an end; he shall no more carry thee captive: he has visited thine iniquities, O daughter of Edom; he has discovered thy sins.
GreekΘΑΥ. Ἐξέλιπεν ἡ ἀνομία σου θύγατερ Σιὼν, οὐ προσθήσει τοῦ ἀποικίσαι σε· ἐπεσκέψατο ἀνομίας σου θύγατερ Ἐδὼμ, ἀπεκάλυψεν ἐπὶ τὰ ἀσεβήματά σου.
KJVThe 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.
JPSThe punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion, He will no more carry thee away into captivity; He will punish thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom, He will uncover thy sins.