Lamentations 4:2-12

2 The precious sons of Tziyon, comparable to fine gold, How are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3 Even the jackals 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.
4 The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of his mouth for thirst: The young children ask bread, and no man breaks it to them.
5 Those who did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: Those who were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
6 For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sedom, That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid on her.
7 Her Nazirites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sappir.
8 Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: Their skin cleaves to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.
9 Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.
10 The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children; They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 The LORD has accomplished his wrath, he has poured out his fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Tziyon, which has devoured the foundations of it.
12 The kings of the eretz didn't believe, neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Yerushalayim.

Lamentations 4:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

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.

The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.