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Lamentations 4

Highlighted words differ from the KJV. Most differences are matters of wording, style or the age of the English, not of meaning; a few reflect different manuscripts.

  1. 1
    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.
    WEBHow the gold has become dim! The most pure gold has changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
  2. 2
    KJVThe precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
    WEBThe precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how they are esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
  3. 3
    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.
    WEBEven the jackals offer their breast. They nurse their young ones. But the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
  4. 4
    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.
    WEBThe tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst. The young children ask for bread, and no one breaks it for them.
  5. 5
    KJVThey that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
    WEBThose who ate delicacies are desolate in the streets. Those who were brought up in purple embrace dunghills.
  6. 6
    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.
    WEBFor the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown as in a moment. No hands were laid on her.
  7. 7
    KJVHer Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
    WEBHer nobles were purer than snow. They were whiter than milk. They were more ruddy in body than rubies. Their polishing was like sapphire.
  8. 8
    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.
    WEBTheir appearance is blacker than a coal. They are not known in the streets. Their skin clings to their bones. It is withered. It has become like wood.
  9. 9
    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.
    WEBThose who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through, for lack of the fruits of the field.
  10. 10
    KJVThe hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
    WEBThe hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children. They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
  11. 11
    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.
    WEBYahweh has accomplished his wrath. He has poured out his fierce anger. He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations.
  12. 12
    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.
    WEBThe kings of the earth didn’t believe, neither did all the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.
  13. 13
    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,
    WEBIt is because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the middle of her.
  14. 14
    KJVThey have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.
    WEBThey wander as blind men in the streets. They are polluted with blood, So that men can’t touch their garments.
  15. 15
    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.
    WEB“Go away!” they cried to them. “Unclean! Go away! Go away! Don’t touch! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, “They can’t live here any more.”
  16. 16
    KJVThe 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.
    WEBYahweh’s anger has scattered them. He will not pay attention to them any more. They didn’t respect the persons of the priests. They didn’t favor the elders.
  17. 17
    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.
    WEBOur eyes still fail, looking in vain for our help. In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
  18. 18
    KJVThey hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
    WEBThey hunt our steps, so that we can’t go in our streets. Our end is near. Our days are fulfilled, for our end has come.
  19. 19
    KJVOur persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
    WEBOur pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky. They chased us on the mountains. They set an ambush for us in the wilderness.
  20. 20
    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.
    WEBThe breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Yahweh, was taken in their pits; of whom we said, under his shadow we will live among the nations.
  21. 21
    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.
    WEBRejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, who dwells in the land of Uz. The cup will pass through to you also. You will be drunken, and will make yourself naked.
  22. 22
    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.
    WEBThe punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion. He will no more carry you away into captivity. He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom. He will uncover your sins.
  • King James Version (1769 text), public domain outside the United Kingdom, where Crown letters patent apply.
  • World English Bible (WEB), public domain. “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org.