| 4:1 | א (Alef)*Alas!* Gold has lost its luster;* pure gold loses value.* Jewels* are scattered on every street corner.* |
| 4:2 | ב (Bet) The precious sons of Zion were worth their weight in gold – Alas! – but now they are treated like* broken clay pots, made by a potter.* |
| 4:3 | ג (Gimel) Even the jackals* nurse their young at their breast,* but my people* are cruel, like ostriches* in the desert. |
| 4:4 | ד (Dalet) The infant’s tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth due to thirst; little children beg for bread,* but no one gives them even a morsel.* |
| 4:5 | ה (He) Those who once feasted on delicacies* are now starving to death* in the streets. Those who grew up* wearing expensive clothes* are now dying* amid garbage.* |
| 4:6 | ו (Vav) The punishment* of my people* exceeded that of* of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment with no one to help her.* |
| 4:7 | ז (Zayin) Her consecrated ones* were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies more ruddy than corals, their hair* like lapis lazuli.* |
| 4:8 | ח (Khet) Now their appearance* is darker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it is dried up, like tree bark. |
| 4:9 | ט (Tet) Those who died by the sword* are better off than those who die of hunger,* those who* waste away,* struck down* from lack of* food.* |
| 4:10 | י (Yod) The hands of tenderhearted women* cooked their own children, who became their food,* when my people* were destroyed.* |
| 4:11 | כ (Kaf) The Lord fully vented* his wrath; he poured out his fierce anger.* He started a fire in Zion; it consumed her foundations.* |
| 4:12 | ל (Lamed) Neither the kings of the earth nor the people of the lands* ever thought* that enemy or foe would enter the gates* of Jerusalem.* |
| 4:13 | מ (Mem) But it happened* due to the sins of her prophets* and the iniquities of her priests, who poured out in her midst the blood of the righteous. |
| 4:14 | נ (Nun) They* wander blindly* through the streets, defiled by the blood they shed,* while no one dares* to touch their garments. |
| 4:15 | ס (Samek) People cry to them, “Turn away! You are unclean! Turn away! Turn away! Don’t touch us!” So they have fled and wander about; but the nations say,* “They may not stay here any longer.” |
| 4:16 | פ (Pe) The Lord himself* has scattered them; he no longer watches over them. They did not honor the priests;* they did not show favor to the elders.* |
| 4:17 | ע (Ayin) Our eyes continually failed us as we looked in vain for help.* From our watchtowers we watched for a nation that could not rescue us. |
| 4:18 | צ (Tsade) Our enemies* hunted us down at every step* so that we could not walk about in our streets. Our end drew near, our days were numbered,* for our end had come! |
| 4:19 | ק (Qof) Those who pursued us were swifter than eagles* in the sky.* They chased us over the mountains; they ambushed us in the wilderness. |
| 4:20 | ר (Resh) Our very life breath – the Lord’s anointed king* – was caught in their traps,* of whom we thought,* “Under his protection* we will survive among the nations.” |
| 4:21 | ש (Sin/Shin) Rejoice and be glad for now,* O people of Edom,* who reside in the land of Uz. But the cup of judgment* will pass* to you also; you will get drunk and take off your clothes. |
| 4:22 | ת (Tav) O people of Zion,* your punishment* will come to an end;* he will not prolong your exile.* But, O people of Edom,* he will punish* your sin* and reveal* your offenses! |
Lamentations 4 - NET Bible [draft]
