Lamentations 4

1 See how the gold has lost its shine, how the pure gold has dulled! at every street corner.

2 The precious people of Jerusalem were more valuable than gold, but now they are thought of as clay jars made by the hands of a potter.

3 Even wild dogs give their milk to feed their young, but my people are cruel like ostriches in the desert.

4 The babies are so thirsty their tongues stick to the roofs of their mouths. Children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.

5 Those who once ate fine foods are now starving in the streets. People who grew up wearing nice clothes now pick through trash piles.

6 My people have been punished more than Sodom was. Sodom was destroyed suddenly, and no hands reached out to help her.

7 Our princes were purer than snow, and whiter than milk. Their bodies were redder than rubies; they looked like sapphires.

8 But now they are blacker than coal, and no one recognizes them in the streets. Their skin hangs on their bones; it is as dry as wood.

9 Those who were killed in the war were better off than those killed by hunger. They starve in pain and die, because there is no food from the field.

10 With their own hands kind women cook their own children. They became food when my people were destroyed.

11 The Lord turned loose all of his anger; he poured out his strong anger. He set fire to Jerusalem, burning it down to the foundations.

12 Kings of the earth and people of the world could not believe that enemies and foes could enter the gates of Jerusalem.

13 It happened because her prophets sinned and her priests did evil. They killed in the city those who did what was right.

14 They wandered in the streets as if they were blind. They were dirty with blood, so no one would touch their clothes.

15 "Go away! You are unclean," people shouted at them. "Get away! Get away! Don't touch us!" So they ran away and wandered. Even the other nations said, "Don't stay here."

16 The Lord himself scattered them and did not look after them anymore. No one respects the priests or honors the older leaders.

17 Also, our eyes grew tired, looking for help that never came. We kept watch from our towers for a nation to save us.

18 Our enemies hunted us, so we could not even walk in the streets. Our end is near. Our time is up. Our end has come.

19 Those who chased us were faster than eagles in the sky. They ran us into the mountains and ambushed us in the desert.

20 The Lord's appointed king, who was our very breath, was caught in their traps. We had said about him, "We will be protected by him among the nations."

21 Be happy and glad, people of Edom, you who live in the land of Uz. The cup of God's anger will come to you; then you will get drunk and go naked.

22 Your punishment is complete, Jerusalem. He will not send you into captivity again. But the Lord will punish the sins of Edom; he will uncover your evil.

Lamentations 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

The deplorable state of the nation is contrasted with its ancient prosperity.

Verses 1-12 What a change is here! Sin tarnishes the beauty of the most exalted powers and the most excellent gifts; but that gold, tried in the fire, which Christ bestows, never will be taken from us; its outward appearance may be dimmed, but its real value can never be changed. The horrors of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem are again described. Beholding the sad consequences of sin in the church of old, let us seriously consider to what the same causes may justly bring down the church now. But, Lord, though we have gone from thee in rebellion, yet turn to us, and turn our hearts to thee, that we may fear thy name. Come to us, bless us with awakening, converting, renewing, confirming grace.

Verses 13-20 Nothing ripens a people more for ruin, nor fills the measure faster, than the sins of priests and prophets. The king himself cannot escape, for Divine vengeance pursues him. Our anointed King alone is the life of our souls; we may safely live under his shadow, and rejoice in Him in the midst of our enemies, for He is the true God and eternal life.

Verses 21-22 Here it is foretold that an end should be put to Zion's troubles. Not the fulness of punishment deserved, but of what God has determined to inflict. An end shall be put to Edom's triumphs. All the troubles of the church and of the believer will soon be accomplished. And the doom of their enemies approaches. The Lord will bring their sins to light, and they shall lie down in eternal sorrow. Edom here represents all the enemies of the church. And the corruption, and sin of Israel, which the prophet has proved to be universal, justifies the judgments of the Lord. It shows the need of that grace in Christ Jesus, which the sin and corruption of all mankind make so necessary.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS 4

The prophet begins this chapter with a complaint of the ill usage of the dear children of God, and precious sons of Zion, La 4:1,2; relates the dreadful effects of the famine during the siege of Jerusalem, La 4:3-10; the taking and destruction of that city he imputes to the wrath of God; and represents it as incredible to the kings and inhabitants of the earth, La 4:11,12; the causes of which were the sins of the prophets, priests, and people, La 4:13-16; expresses the vain hopes they once had, but now were given up entirely, their king being taken, La 4:17-20; and the chapter is concluded with a prophecy of the destruction of the Edomites, and of the return of the Jews from captivity, La 4:21,22.