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Lamentations 4
Expanded Bible
Lamentations 4
Expanded Bible
The Attack on Jerusalem
4 See how the gold has ·lost its shine [lost its luster; L become dim/dark],
how the pure gold has ·dulled [changed]!
The stones of the ·Temple [L Holy Place] are scattered
at ·every street corner [L the top of every street].
2 The precious ·people [children; sons] of ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C the location of the Temple]
were ·more valuable than [worth their weight in] gold,
but now they are thought of as clay jars
·made by [L the work of] the hands of a potter.
3 Even ·wild dogs [jackals] ·give their milk [L prepare the breast]
to ·feed [suckle; nurse] their young,
but [L the daughter of] my people are ·cruel [violent]
like ostriches in the ·desert [wilderness; Job 39:14–16].
4 The ·babies [L nurslings] are so thirsty
their tongues stick to ·the roofs of their mouths [L their palates].
Children ·beg [ask] for bread,
but no one ·gives [offers] them any.
5 Those who once ate ·fine foods [delicacies; C the food of the rich; Prov. 23:3, 6]
are ·now starving [L desolate] in the streets.
People who ·grew up [were nurtured] ·wearing nice clothes [L in purple/or crimson; C expensive clothes often associated with royalty]
now ·pick through [cling to] ·trash piles [ash heaps; 1 Sam. 2:8; Job 2:8; Ps. 113:7].
6 ·My people have been punished
more than Sodom was [L The iniquity/or punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin/or punishment of Sodom].
·Sodom [L …which] was ·destroyed [L overturned] suddenly,
and no hands ·reached out to help her [or were wrung; Gen. 19; Deut. 29:23; Is. 1:9–10; Jer. 23:14; Ezek. 16:46–56; Matt. 10:15; Jude 7; Rev. 11:8].
7 ·Our [or Her] princes were purer than snow,
and whiter than milk.
Their bodies were redder than ·rubies [or coral];
they looked like ·sapphires [lapis lazuli].
8 But now ·they [L their faces] are blacker than coal,
and no one recognizes them in the streets.
Their skin ·hangs [or shrivels] on their bones;
it is as dry as wood.
9 Those who were ·killed [L pierced] ·in the war [L by the sword] were better off
than those ·killed [L pierced] by ·hunger [famine].
They ·starve in pain and die [drain/waste away],
·because there is no food from the field [L deprived of the produce of the field; Jer. 11:22; 14:12–18].
10 With their own hands ·kind [compassionate] women
·cook [boil] their own children.
They became food
when ·my [L the daughter of my] people were ·destroyed [fractured; broken; Deut. 28:56–57].
11 The Lord turned loose all of his anger;
he poured out his ·strong [L hot] anger.
He set fire to ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C the location of the Temple; Ps. 74:4–7],
·burning it down to the [L consuming its] foundations.
12 Kings of the earth and ·people [L the inhabitants] of the world
could not believe
that enemies and foes
could enter the gates of Jerusalem [C since God had made his presence known there; Ps. 48:1–2].
13 It happened because her prophets sinned
and her priests did evil [Jer. 1:17–19; 2:7–8, 26; 4:9; 13:12–14].
They ·killed [L poured out blood] in ·the city [L its midst]
·those who did what was right [the righteous].
14 They wandered in the streets
as if they were blind.
They were ·dirty [defiled; C in a ritual sense] with blood [C as if covered with menstrual blood; Lev. 15],
so no one ·would [was able to] touch their clothes.
15 “·Go away [Turn aside]! ·You are unclean [L Unclean!; C in a ritual sense],” people shouted at them.
“·Get away [Turn aside]! ·Get away [Turn aside]! Don’t touch us!”
So they ran away and wandered.
Even the other nations said, “Don’t stay here.”
16 The Lord himself ·scattered [dispersed] them
and did not ·look after [regard] them anymore.
No one respects the priests
or ·honors [has favor for] the elders.
17 Also, our eyes ·grew tired [failed],
looking for help ·that never came [in vain; without purpose; 2:11; Ps. 69:3; 119:82, 123].
We kept watch ·from our towers [or eagerly]
for a nation ·to save us [L that could not save us/give us victory; C Judah had hoped that Egypt would rescue them from Babylon; Jer. 2:18, 36].
18 ·Our enemies [L They] ·hunted [dogged] ·us [L our steps],
so we could not even walk in the ·streets [public areas].
Our end is near. Our ·time [L days] ·is [L fill] up.
Our end has come.
19 Those who ·chased [pursued] us
were faster than eagles in the ·sky [heavens].
They ·ran [chased] us into the mountains
and ambushed us in the ·desert [wilderness].
20 The Lord’s ·appointed king [anointed; C Judah’s king], ·who was our very breath [L the breath of our life/nostrils],
was caught in their traps [2 Kin. 25:5–7].
We had said about him, “We will ·be protected by him [L live in his shadow/shade]
among the nations.”
21 Be happy and ·glad [rejoice], ·people [L daughter] of Edom,
you who live in the land of Uz [C city in Edom; Job 1:1; Jer. 25:20].
The cup [C of God’s judgment] will ·come [pass] to you;
then you will get drunk and go naked [Jer. 25:15–38; 49:12–13].
22 Your ·punishment [or iniquity] is complete, ·Jerusalem [L daughter of Zion; C the location of the Temple].
He will not send you into ·captivity again [exile].
But the Lord will punish the ·sins [iniquity] of Edom;
he will ·uncover [expose] your ·evil [sin].
Okukungubaga 4
Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya
Okukungubaga 4
Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya
4 (A)Zaabu ng’ettalazze!
Zaabu ennungi ng’efuuse!
Amayinja ag’omuwendo gasaasaanye
buli luguudo we lutandikira.
2 Abaana ba Sayuuni ab’omuwendo
abaali beenkana nga zaabu ennungi,
kaakano bali ng’ensuwa ez’ebbumba,
omulimu gw’emikono gy’omubumbi.
3 (B)Ebibe biyonsa
abaana baabyo,
naye abantu bange bafuuse ng’abatalina kisa,
bafaanana nga bammaaya mu ddungu.
4 (C)Olw’ennyonta omwana ayonka gy’alina,
olulimi lwe lukwatira ku kibuno ky’akamwa ke;
abaana basaba emmere
naye tewali n’omu agibawa.
5 (D)Abaalyanga ebiwoomerera
basabiriza ku nguudo;
n’abo abaakuzibwa ng’abambala engoye ezinekaaneka
bali ku ntuumu ez’ebisasiro.
6 (E)Ekibonerezo ky’abantu bange
kisinga ekya Sodomu,
ekyawambibwa mu kaseera akatono,
nga tewali n’omu azze kukibeera.
7 Abalangira baabwe baatukula nnyo okusinga omuzira,
nga beeru okusinga amata;
n’emibiri gyabwe nga mimyufu okusinga amayinja amatwakaavu,
era banyirivu nga safiro.
8 (F)Naye kaakano badduggala okusinga enziro,
era tebakyasobola kutegeerekeka mu nguudo.
Olususu lwabwe lukalidde ku magumba gaabwe;
lukaze ng’ekiti ekikalu.
9 (G)Abafa ekitala bafa bulungi
okusinga abafa enjala,
kubanga abafa enjala bayongobera ne baggwaawo
olw’obutaba na mmere mu nnimiro.
10 (H)Abakazi ab’ekisa abaagala abaana
bafumbye abaana baabwe;
abaana abaafuuka emmere
abantu bange bwe baazikirizibwa.
11 (I)Mukama akituukirizza mu busungu bwe obungi,
era abayiyeeko obusungu bwe obungi.
Yakoleeza omuliro mu Sayuuni
ogwayokya emisingi gyakyo.
12 (J)Bakabaka b’ensi
n’abantu ab’ensi endala tebakkiriza,
nti abalabe n’ababakyawa baliyingira
mu wankaaki wa Yerusaalemi.
13 (K)Ebyo byabatuukako olw’ebibi bya bannabbi be,
n’olw’obutali butuukirivu bwa bakabona be,
abaayiwa omusaayi
gw’abatuukirivu abaababeerangamu.
14 (L)Badoobera mu nguudo
nga bamuzibe;
bajjudde omusaayi
so tewali ayaŋŋanga okukwata ku byambalo byabwe.
15 (M)Abantu baabagobaganya nga boogera nti, “Muveewo, mmwe abatali balongoofu!
Muviireewo ddala, so temutukwatako!”
Bwe baafuuka emmombooze,
amawanga gabagobaganya nga boogera nti,
“Tebakyasaana kubeera wano.”
16 (N)Mukama yennyini abasaasaanyizza,
takyabafaako.
Bakabona tebakyassibwamu kitiibwa,
newaakubadde abakadde okuweebwa ebifo eby’oku mwanjo.
17 (O)Amaaso gaffe gakooye
olw’okulindirira okubeerwa okutajja;
nga tulindirira
eggwanga eriyinza okutulokola.
18 (P)Baatucocca
ne batulemesa okutambulira mu nguudo zaffe;
enkomerero yaffe n’eba kumpi,
n’ennaku zaffe ne ziggwaayo.
19 (Q)Abaatuyiganyanga baatusinga embiro
okusinga n’empungu ez’omu bbanga.
Baatugobera mu nsozi
ne batuteegera mu ddungu.
20 (R)Oyo Mukama gwe yafukako amafuta
yagwa mu mitego gyabwe.
Twalowooza nga tulikwekebwa mu kisiikirize kye
ne tubeeranga mu mawanga.
21 (S)Sanyuka ojaguze, ggwe Omuwala wa Edomu,
abeera mu nsi ya Uzi;
naye lumu olinywa ku kikompe
n’otamiira ne weeyambula.
22 (T)Ggwe Muwala wa Sayuuni, ekibonerezo kyo kikomye awo,
talikwongerayo mu busibe.
Naye ggwe omuwala wa Edomu, Mukama alikubonereza,
n’ayanika ekibi kyo mu lujjudde.
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
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
Expanded Bible (EXB)
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Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya (LCB)
Bayibuli Entukuvu, Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya Copyright © 1984, 1986, 1993, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Tuweereddwa olukusa okuva mu Biblica, Inc.® Olukusa lwonna mu nsi yonna lusigalidde mu Biblica, Inc. Luganda Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1984, 1986, 1993, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
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.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.