Open English Translation LAM Chapter 4

4 א (Alef)

4 Wow, how the gold is tarnished—the pure gold has changed.

The holy stones are scattered on the corners of every street.

ב (Beyt)

2 The precious sons of Tsiyyon were once comparable with fine gold.

Now they’re regarded as clay jars—the work of a potter’s hands.

ג (Gimel)

3 Even the jackals offer their teats to suckle their cubs,

but my people are fierce like the ostriches in the wilderness.

ד (Dalet)

4 The tongue of the breast-feeding baby sticks to the roof of his mouth with thirst.

The children ask for food from those distributing it, but there’s none for them.

ה (He)

5 Those used to eating the finest food are now desolate in the streets.

Those once attended by servants wearing scarlet, now embrace piles of rubbish.

ו (Vav)

6 The guilt of my people is greater than Sodom’s sin.[ref]

That city was overthrown in an instant, but no one shed any tears about it.

ז (Zayin)

7 Her religious leaders were purer than snow—whiter than milk.

Their bones were redder than coral—their parts were sapphire.

ח (Het)

8 Blackness has darkened their form—they’re not even recognised in the streets.

Their skin has shrivelled on their bones—it’s become as dry and stiff as bark.

ט (Tet)

9 Those slain by the sword were happier than those who died from hunger—

those who slowly wasted away as if they were pierced through by the lack of produce fro the countryside.

י (Yod)

10 The hands of compassionate women boiled their children.

They became a meal for them during the destruction of my people.[ref]

כ (Kaf)

11 Yahweh brought his rage to completion.

He poured out his fierce anger

and he kindled a fire in Tsiyyon that consumed its foundations.

ל (Lamed)

12 The kings of the earth, and none of the world’s inhabitants, ever believed,

that the adversary and enemy would get through Yerushalem’s gates.

מ (Mem)

13 However, the sins of her prophets were even more than the disobedience of her priests.

They had poured the blood of godly people out right there in the middle of the city.

נ (Nun)

14 They stumble blind in the streets.

They’re defiled with blood.

No one even dares to touch their clothes.

ס (Samek)

15 “Away! Unclean!” they shouted at them. “Away! Away! Don’t touch!”

So they fled Yisrael, wandering around,

but it was said among the nations, “They can’t stay here any longer.”

ע (Ayin)

16 Yahweh’s presence scattered them—he won’t continue to watch over them.

The people no longer honoured the priests.

They showed no favour to the elders.

פ (Pe)

17 Our eyes failed as we waited uselessly for help.

From our watchtowers, we expected to see other nations come to rescue us, but no.

צ (Tsade)

18 They tracked our steps,

≈walking in our paths.

Our end was coming closer.

≈Our days had been numbered, because our end had come.

ק (Qof)

19 The ones chasing after us were faster than the eagles in the sky.

They chased us over the mountains

then they ambushed us in the wilderness.

ר (Resh)

20 A breath of our nostrils, Yahweh’s anointed one was captured in their pits—

the one we’d spoken about, saying, “We’ll live among the nations under his protection.”

ש (Sin/Shin)

21 Celebrate and be glad, Edom, living there in the Uz region.

The cup of suffering will also pass to you.

You’ll get drunk and go around naked.

ת (Tav)

22 People of Tsiyyon, your guilt will finish—he won’t not extend your exile.

^He’ll deal with your guilt, people of Edom—he’ll uncover your sins.