Lamentations 4

1 How [in what manner, to what extent] the gold [pure and valuable metal] has become tarnished [dim, lost its shine], the pure gold [most fine, refined] has become dull [changed, altered]! The gems [stones of great value, precious] of the temple [holy place, sanctuary] lie scattered [poured out, thrown away] on every street corner [at the head of all out-places, in every public area]. word study 2 How the precious [valued, highly esteemed] sons of Zion, once worth their weight [comparable] in pure gold [fine gold, refined], are now esteemed as jars [earthen pitchers, vessels] of clay [earthenware], the work [deed, action] of a potter’s [one who forms, shapes] hands [power, direction]! word study 3 Even [also, too] jackals [female dragons, wild animals] offer their breasts [swollen with milk] to nurse their young, but the daughter [female child, woman] of my people [nation, community] has become [turned into, changed] cruel [fierce, brutal], like an ostrich [unclean bird, desert dweller] in the wilderness [desert, open field]. word study 4 The nursing infant’s [suckling child, young one] tongue [language, speech] clings [to cleave, stick] in thirst [dryness, parched condition] to the roof [palate, upper mouth] of his mouth. Little children [young ones, infants] beg [ask, request] for bread [food, nourishment], but no one [none, no person] gives [provides, breaks] them any [nothing, none]. word study 5 Those who once ate [delicately, luxurious food] delicacies [fine dishes, dainties] are destitute [desolate, starving] in the streets [outside, outdoors]; those brought up [nurtured, supported] in crimson [scarlet, deep red] huddle [embrace, cling to] in ash heaps [dung hills, refuse piles]. word study 6 The punishment [or iniquity, moral evil] of the daughter [a female child or a woman, figuratively] of my people [a nation or group of individuals] is greater [to magnify, made more severe] than that of Sodom [a city near the Dead Sea, known for its wickedness], which was overthrown [to overturn, completely destroyed] in an instant [a very short space of time, like a moment] without a hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] turned to help her [or laid upon her, assisting her]. word study 7 Her dignitaries [Nazarites, consecrated ones] were brighter [purer, dazzling] than snow, whiter [cleaner, more radiant] than milk; their bodies [bone, substance] were more ruddy [flushed, glowing] than rubies [jewels, precious stones], their appearance [polishing, refinement] like sapphires [a precious gemstone]. word study 8 But now their appearance [visage, face] is blacker [darker than coal, like soot] than soot; they are not [no longer] recognized [known, acknowledged] in the streets [outside, in public]. Their skin [human skin, outer layer] has shriveled [cleaved, stuck] on their bones [body, framework]; it has become [withened, dried up] as dry [like wood, withered] as a stick [tree, wooden object]. word study 9 Those slain [killed, pierced] by the sword [cutting instrument] are better off [more pleasant, to be in a state of welfare] than those who die [waste away, pine] of hunger [famine, lack of food], who [they] waste away [flow, slowly starve], pierced [stricken, stabbed] with pain [agony, suffering] because the fields [land, area of cultivation] lack [are without] produce [fruit, the results of the earth]. word study 10 The hands [of loving care] of compassionate [pitiful, showing pity] women have cooked [boiled, sodden] their own children [youth, young ones], who became their food [meat, sustenance] in the destruction [breaking, shattering] of the daughter [female child, woman] of my people [nation, community]. word study 11 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has exhausted [completed, given full effect to] His wrath [intense anger, rage]; He has poured out [shed, spilled] His fierce [burning, intense] anger; He has kindled [started, ignited] a fire [burning, flame] in Zion [the mountain in Jerusalem], and it has consumed [devoured, eaten] her foundations [the base, the starting point]. word study 12 The kings [rulers, monarchs] of the earth [land, world] did not believe [have faith, trust], nor any people [inhabitants, dwellers] of the world [earth, creation], that an enemy [adversary, foe] or a foe [opponent, adversary] could enter [come into, invade] the gates [entrances, doors] of Jerusalem [the city of peace, God’s dwelling place]. word study 13 But this was for the sins [moral failures, guilt] of her prophets [those who speak for God] and the guilt [iniquity, moral evil] of her priests [spiritual leaders], who shed [poured out, spilled] the blood [life-giving fluid] of the righteous [just, upright, made right with God] in her midst [inner part, central location]. word study 14 They wandered [as blind men, naked] blind [physically or spiritually unable to see] in the streets [outside, in the outdoors], defiled [made unclean, polluted] by this blood [the liquid that flows through the body], so that no one [no person, not anyone] dared [was able, had the power] to touch [reach out, make contact] their garments [clothing, robes]. word study 15 “Go away [depart, turn aside]! Unclean [spiritually defiled, impure]!” men shouted at them. “Away [turn aside], away [remove yourselves]! Do not [by no means] touch us [come near, reach out to]!” So they fled [ran quickly, took flight] and wandered [moved back and forth, shook]. Among the nations [Gentile peoples, non-Hebrews] it was said [spoken, declared], “They can stay here no longer [will not sojourn, cannot remain].” word study 16 The presence [face] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has scattered them; He regards [to look, show favor] them no more [not, without care]. The priests [spiritual leaders] are shown no honor [respect, lifting up]; the elders [old, wise men] find no favor [graciousness]. word study 17 All the while our eyes [still failing, yet watching] were failing as we looked in vain [with empty, unsatisfying results] for help [assistance, aid, or rescue]. We watched from our towers [watchtowers, lookout posts] for a nation [a Gentile people, a foreign country] that could not [was unable to, did not have the power to] save [deliver, rescue, or redeem] us. word study 18 They stalked [hunted, tracked] our every step [path of life], so that we could not walk [go, move] in our streets [public areas, plazas]. Our end [conclusion, extremity] drew near [approached, came close], our time [days, appointed span] ran out [was fulfilled, completed], for our end [finality, last moment] had come [arrived, was present]! word study 19 Those who chased us [our pursuers, persecutors] were swifter [quicker, faster] than the eagles [birds of prey] in the sky [heaven, the atmosphere]; they pursued us [chased, hunted] over the mountains [hills, high places] and ambushed us [lay in wait, set a trap] in the wilderness [desert, open field]. word study 20 The LORD’s [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] anointed [Messiah, the chosen one], the breath [spirit, the vital force] of our life, was captured [seized, taken by surprise] in their pits [traps, snares]. We had said of him, “Under his shadow [protection, shelter] we will live [have life, thrive] among the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples].” word study 21 So rejoice [be glad, celebrate] and be glad [experience joy], O Daughter [female child, nation] of Edom [twin brother of Jacob, region], you who dwell [reside, live] in the land [earth, territory] of Uz [region east of Palestine]. Yet the cup [divine wrath] will pass [be given, come] to you as well [also, too]; you will get drunk [intoxicated, staggering] and expose [uncover, reveal] yourself [be naked, ashamed]. word study 22 O Daughter [female descendant, people] of Zion [the city of God, Jerusalem], your punishment [chastisement, discipline] is complete [finished, accomplished]; He will not prolong [continue, add to] your exile [captivity, time away from home]. But He will punish [visit, reckon with] your iniquity [moral evil, sin], O Daughter of Edom [the region of Esau’s descendants]; He will expose [reveal, uncover] your sins [guilt, wrongdoing]. word study