Lamentations 3 | Biblion Bible Reader

WEB·Lamentations 4

¹How 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.

KJVHow is the gold^H2091 become dim^H6004^(H8714)! how is the most^H2896 fine gold^H3800 changed^H8132^(H8799)! the stones^H68 of the sanctuary^H6944 are poured out^H8210^(H8691) in the top^H7218 of every street^H2351.

² The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how they are esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

KJVThe precious^H3368 sons^H1121 of Zion^H6726, comparable^H5537^(H8794) to fine gold^H6337, how are they esteemed^H2803^(H8738) as earthen^H2789 pitchers^H5035, the work^H4639 of the hands^H3027 of the potter^H3335^(H8802)!

³ Even 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.

KJVEven the sea monsters^H8577 draw out^H2502^(H8804) the breast^H7699, they give suck^H3243^(H8689) to their young ones^H1482: the daughter^H1323 of my people^H5971 is become cruel^H393, like the ostriches^H3283 in the wilderness^H4057.

⁴ The 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.

KJVThe tongue^H3956 of the sucking child^H3243^(H8802) cleaveth^H1692^(H8804) to the roof of his mouth^H2441 for thirst^H6772: the young children^H5768 ask^H7592^(H8804) bread^H3899, and no man breaketh^H6566^(H8802) it unto them.

⁵ Those who ate delicacies are desolate in the streets. Those who were brought up in purple embrace dunghills.

KJVThey that did feed^H398^(H8802) delicately^H4574 are desolate^H8074^(H8738) in the streets^H2351: they that were brought up^H539^(H8803) in scarlet^H8438 embrace^H2263^(H8765) dunghills^H830.

⁶ For 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.

KJVFor the punishment of the iniquity^H5771 of the daughter^H1323 of my people^H5971 is greater^H1431^(H8799) than the punishment^H2403 of the sin of Sodom^H5467, that was overthrown^H2015^(H8803) as in a moment^H7281, and no hands^H3027 stayed^H2342^(H8804) on her.

⁷ Her nobles were purer than snow. They were whiter than milk. They were more ruddy in body than rubies. Their polishing was like sapphire.

KJVHer Nazarites^H5139 were purer^H2141^(H8804) than snow^H7950, they were whiter^H6705^(H8804) than milk^H2461, they were more ruddy^H119^(H8804) in body^H6106 than rubies^H6443, their polishing^H1508 was of sapphire^H5601:

⁸ Their 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.

KJVTheir visage^H8389 is blacker^H2821^(H8804) than a coal^H7815; they are not known^H5234^(H8738) in the streets^H2351: their skin^H5785 cleaveth^H6821^(H8804) to their bones^H6106; it is withered^H3001^(H8804), it is become like a stick^H6086.

⁹ Those 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.

KJVThey that be slain^H2491 with the sword^H2719 are better^H2896 than they that be slain^H2491 with hunger^H7458: for these^H1992 pine away^H2100^(H8799), stricken^H1856^(H8794) through for want of the fruits^H8570 of the field^H7704.

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.

KJVThe hands^H3027 of the pitiful^H7362 women^H802 have sodden^H1310^(H8765) their own children^H3206: they were their meat^H1262^(H8763) in the destruction^H7667 of the daughter^H1323 of my people^H5971.

¹¹ Yahweh has accomplished his wrath. He has poured out his fierce anger. He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations.

KJVThe LORD^H3068 hath accomplished^H3615^(H8765) his fury^H2534; he hath poured out^H8210^(H8804) his fierce^H2740 anger^H639, and hath kindled^H3341^(H8686) a fire^H784 in Zion^H6726, and it hath devoured^H398^(H8799) the foundations^H3247 thereof.

¹² The 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.

KJVThe kings^H4428 of the earth^H776, and all the inhabitants^H3427^(H8802) of the world^H8398, would not have believed^H539^(H8689) that the adversary^H6862 and the enemy^H341^(H8802) should have entered^H935^(H8799) into the gates^H8179 of Jerusalem^H3389.

¹³ It 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.

KJVFor the sins^H2403 of her prophets^H5030, and the iniquities^H5771 of her priests^H3548, that have shed^H8210^(H8802) the blood^H1818 of the just^H6662 in the midst^H7130 of her,

¹⁴ They wander as blind men in the streets. They are polluted with blood, So that men can’t touch their garments.

KJVThey have wandered^H5128^(H8804) as blind^H5787 men in the streets^H2351, they have polluted^H1351^(H8738) themselves with blood^H1818, so that men could^H3201^(H8799) not^H3808 touch^H5060^(H8799) their garments^H3830.

¹⁵ “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.”

KJVThey cried^H7121^(H8804) unto them, Depart^H5493^(H8798) ye; it is unclean^H2931; depart^H5493^(H8798), depart^H5493^(H8798), touch^H5060^(H8799) not: when they fled away^H5132^(H8804) and wandered^H5128^(H8804), they said^H559^(H8804) among the heathen^H1471, They shall no more^H3254^(H8686) sojourn^H1481^(H8800) there.

¹⁶ Yahweh’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.

KJVThe anger^H6440 of the LORD^H3068 hath divided^H2505^(H8765) them; he will no more^H3254^(H8686) regard^H5027^(H8687) them: they respected^H5375^(H8804) not the persons^H6440 of the priests^H3548, they favoured^H2603^(H8804) not the elders^H2205.

¹⁷ Our eyes still fail, looking in vain for our help. In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.

KJVAs for us, our eyes^H5869 as yet failed^H3615^(H8799) for our vain^H1892 help^H5833: in our watching^H6836 we have watched^H6822^(H8765) for a nation^H1471 that could not save^H3467^(H8686) us.

¹⁸ They 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.

KJVThey hunt^H6679^(H8804) our steps^H6806, that we cannot go^H3212^(H8800) in our streets^H7339: our end^H7093 is near^H7126^(H8804), our days^H3117 are fulfilled^H4390^(H8804); for our end^H7093 is come^H935^(H8804).

¹⁹ Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky. They chased us on the mountains. They set an ambush for us in the wilderness.

KJVOur persecutors^H7291^(H8802) are swifter^H7031 than the eagles^H5404 of the heaven^H8064: they pursued^H1814^(H8804) us upon the mountains^H2022, they laid wait^H693^(H8804) for us in the wilderness^H4057.

²⁰ The 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.

KJVThe breath^H7307 of our nostrils^H639, the anointed^H4899 of the LORD^H3068, was taken^H3920^(H8738) in their pits^H7825, of whom we said^H559^(H8804), Under his shadow^H6738 we shall live^H2421^(H8799) among the heathen^H1471.

²¹ Rejoice 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.

KJVRejoice^H7797^(H8798) and be glad^H8055^(H8798), O daughter^H1323 of Edom^H123, that dwellest^H3427^(H8802) in the land^H776 of Uz^H5780; the cup^H3563 also shall pass^H5674^(H8799) through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken^H7937^(H8799), and shalt make thyself naked^H6168^(H8691).

²² The 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.

KJVThe punishment of thine iniquity^H5771 is accomplished^H8552^(H8804), O daughter^H1323 of Zion^H6726; he will no more^H3254^(H8686) carry thee away into captivity^H1540^(H8687): he will visit^H6485^(H8804) thine iniquity^H5771, O daughter^H1323 of Edom^H123; he will discover^H1540^(H8765) thy sins^H2403.

WEB·Lamentations 3

¹I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

KJVI am the man^H1397 that hath seen^H7200^(H8804) affliction^H6040 by the rod^H7626 of his wrath^H5678.

² He has led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light.

KJVHe hath led^H5090^(H8804) me, and brought^H3212^(H8686) me into darkness^H2822, but not into light^H216.

³ Surely he turns his hand against me again and again all day long.

KJVSurely against me is he turned^H7725^(H8799); he turneth^H2015^(H8799) his hand^H3027 against me all the day^H3117.

⁴ He has made my flesh and my skin old. He has broken my bones.

KJVMy flesh^H1320 and my skin^H5785 hath he made old^H1086^(H8765); he hath broken^H7665^(H8765) my bones^H6106.

⁵ He has built against me, and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.

KJVHe hath builded against^H1129^(H8804) me, and compassed^H5362^(H8686) me with gall^H7219 and travail^H8513.

⁶ He has made me dwell in dark places, as those who have been long dead.

KJVHe hath set^H3427^(H8689) me in dark places^H4285, as they that be dead^H4191^(H8801) of old^H5769.

⁷ He has walled me about, so that I can’t go out. He has made my chain heavy.

KJVHe hath hedged^H1443^(H8804) me about, that I cannot get out^H3318^(H8799): he hath made my chain^H5178 heavy^H3513^(H8689).

⁸ Yes, when I cry, and call for help, he shuts out my prayer.

KJVAlso when I cry^H2199^(H8799) and shout^H7768^(H8762), he shutteth out^H5640^(H8804) my prayer^H8605.

⁹ He has walled up my ways with cut stone. He has made my paths crooked.

KJVHe hath inclosed^H1443^(H8804) my ways^H1870 with hewn stone^H1496, he hath made my paths^H5410 crooked^H5753^(H8765).

¹⁰ He is to me as a bear lying in wait, as a lion in hiding.

KJVHe was unto me as a bear^H1677 lying in wait^H693^(H8802), and as a lion^H738 in secret places^H4565.

¹¹ He has turned away my path, and pulled me in pieces. He has made me desolate.

KJVHe hath turned aside^H5493^(H8790) my ways^H1870, and pulled me in pieces^H6582^(H8762): he hath made^H7760^(H8804) me desolate^H8074^(H8802).

¹² He has bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.

KJVHe hath bent^H1869^(H8804) his bow^H7198, and set^H5324^(H8686) me as a mark^H4307 for the arrow^H2671.

¹³ He has caused the shafts of his quiver to enter into my kidneys.

KJVHe hath caused the arrows^H1121 of his quiver^H827 to enter^H935^(H8689) into my reins^H3629.

¹⁴ I have become a derision to all my people, and their song all day long.

KJVI was a derision^H7814 to all my people^H5971; and their song^H5058 all the day^H3117.

¹⁵ He has filled me with bitterness. He has stuffed me with wormwood.

KJVHe hath filled^H7646^(H8689) me with bitterness^H4844, he hath made me drunken^H7301^(H8689) with wormwood^H3939.

¹⁶ He has also broken my teeth with gravel. He has covered me with ashes.

KJVHe hath also broken^H1638^(H8686) my teeth^H8127 with gravel stones^H2687, he hath covered^H3728^(H8689) me with ashes^H665.

¹⁷ You have removed my soul far away from peace. I forgot prosperity.

KJVAnd thou hast removed^H2186 my soul^H5315 far off^H2186^(H8799) from peace^H7965: I forgat^H5382^(H8804) prosperity^H2896.

¹⁸ I said, “My strength has perished, along with my expectation from Yahweh.”

KJVAnd I said^H559^(H8799), My strength^H5331 and my hope^H8431 is perished^H6^(H8804) from the LORD^H3068:

¹⁹ Remember my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the bitterness.

KJVRemembering^H2142^(H8798) mine affliction^H6040 and my misery^H4788, the wormwood^H3939 and the gall^H7219.

²⁰ My soul still remembers them, and is bowed down within me.

KJVMy soul^H5315 hath them still^H2142^(H8800) in remembrance^H2142^(H8799), and is humbled^H7743^(H8686) in me.

²¹ This I recall to my mind; therefore I have hope.

KJVThis I recall^H7725^(H8686) to my mind^H3820, therefore have I hope^H3176^(H8686).

²² It is because of Yahweh’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his mercies don’t fail.

KJVIt is of the LORD'S^H3068 mercies^H2617 that we are not consumed^H8552^(H8804), because his compassions^H7356 fail^H3615^(H8804) not.

²³ They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.

KJVThey are new^H2319 every morning^H1242: great^H7227 is thy faithfulness^H530.

²⁴ “Yahweh is my portion,” says my soul. “Therefore I will hope in him.”

KJVThe LORD^H3068 is my portion^H2506, saith^H559^(H8804) my soul^H5315; therefore will I hope^H3176^(H8686) in him.

²⁵ Yahweh is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

KJVThe LORD^H3068 is good^H2896 unto them that wait^H6960^(H8802) for him, to the soul^H5315 that seeketh^H1875^(H8799) him.

²⁶ It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Yahweh.

KJVIt is good^H2896 that a man should both hope^H3175^(H8675)^H2342^(H8799) and quietly wait^H1748 for the salvation^H8668 of the LORD^H3068.

²⁷ It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

KJVIt is good^H2896 for a man^H1397 that he bear^H5375^(H8799) the yoke^H5923 in his youth^H5271.

²⁸ Let him sit alone and keep silence, because he has laid it on him.

KJVHe sitteth^H3427^(H8799) alone^H910 and keepeth silence^H1826^(H8799), because he hath borne^H5190^(H8804) it upon him.

²⁹ Let him put his mouth in the dust, if it is so that there may be hope.

KJVHe putteth^H5414^(H8799) his mouth^H6310 in the dust^H6083; if so be there may be^H3426 hope^H8615.

³⁰ Let him give his cheek to him who strikes him. Let him be filled full of reproach.

KJVHe giveth^H5414^(H8799) his cheek^H3895 to him that smiteth^H5221^(H8688) him: he is filled full^H7646^(H8799) with reproach^H2781.

³¹ For the Lord will not cast off forever.

KJVFor the Lord^H136 will not cast off^H2186^(H8799) for ever^H5769:

³² For though he causes grief, yet he will have compassion according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.

KJVBut though he cause grief^H3013^(H8689), yet will he have compassion^H7355^(H8765) according to the multitude^H7230 of his mercies^H2617.

³³ For he does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.

KJVFor he doth not afflict^H6031^(H8765) willingly^H3820 nor grieve^H3013^(H8762) the children^H1121 of men^H376.

³⁴ To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth,

KJVTo crush^H1792^(H8763) under his feet^H7272 all the prisoners^H615 of the earth^H776,

³⁵ to turn away the right of a man before the face of the Most High,

KJVTo turn aside^H5186^(H8687) the right^H4941 of a man^H1397 before the face^H6440 of the most High^H5945,

³⁶ to subvert a man in his cause, the Lord doesn’t approve.

KJVTo subvert^H5791^(H8763) a man^H120 in his cause^H7379, the Lord^H136 approveth^H7200^(H8804) not.

³⁷ Who is he who says, and it comes to pass, when the Lord doesn’t command it?

KJVWho is he that saith^H559^(H8804), and it cometh to pass, when the Lord^H136 commandeth^H6680^(H8765) it not?

³⁸ Doesn’t evil and good come out of the mouth of the Most High?

KJVOut of the mouth^H6310 of the most High^H5945 proceedeth^H3318^(H8799) not evil^H7451 and good^H2896?

³⁹ Why should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

KJVWherefore doth a living^H2416 man^H120 complain^H596^(H8691), a man^H1397 for the punishment of his sins^H2399?

⁴⁰ Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Yahweh.

KJVLet us search^H2664^(H8799) and try^H2713^(H8799) our ways^H1870, and turn again^H7725^(H8799) to the LORD^H3068.

⁴¹ Let’s lift up our heart with our hands to God in the heavens.

KJVLet us lift up^H5375^(H8799) our heart^H3824 with our hands^H3709 unto God^H410 in the heavens^H8064.

⁴² “We have transgressed and have rebelled. You have not pardoned.

KJVWe^H5168 have transgressed^H6586^(H8804) and have rebelled^H4784^(H8804): thou hast not pardoned^H5545^(H8804).

⁴³ “You have covered us with anger and pursued us. You have killed. You have not pitied.

KJVThou hast covered^H5526^(H8804) with anger^H639, and persecuted^H7291^(H8799) us: thou hast slain^H2026^(H8804), thou hast not pitied^H2550^(H8804).

⁴⁴ You have covered yourself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.

KJVThou hast covered^H5526^(H8804) thyself with a cloud^H6051, that our prayer^H8605 should not pass through^H5674^(H8800).

⁴⁵ You have made us an off-scouring and refuse in the middle of the peoples.

KJVThou hast made^H7760^(H8799) us as the offscouring^H5501 and refuse^H3973 in the midst^H7130 of the people^H5971.

⁴⁶ “All our enemies have opened their mouth wide against us.

KJVAll our enemies^H341^(H8802) have opened^H6475^(H8804) their mouths^H6310 against us.

⁴⁷ Terror and the pit have come on us, devastation and destruction.”

KJVFear^H6343 and a snare^H6354 is come upon us, desolation^H7612 and destruction^H7667.

⁴⁸ My eye runs down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

KJVMine eye^H5869 runneth down^H3381^(H8799) with rivers^H6388 of water^H4325 for the destruction^H7667 of the daughter^H1323 of my people^H5971.

⁴⁹ My eye pours down and doesn’t cease, without any intermission,

KJVMine eye^H5869 trickleth down^H5064^(H8738), and ceaseth^H1820^(H8799) not, without any intermission^H2014,

⁵⁰ until Yahweh looks down, and sees from heaven.

KJVTill the LORD^H3068 look down^H8259^(H8686), and behold^H7200^(H8799) from heaven^H8064.

⁵¹ My eye affects my soul, because of all the daughters of my city.

KJVMine eye^H5869 affecteth^H5953^(H8782) mine heart^H5315 because of all the daughters^H1323 of my city^H5892.

⁵² They have chased me relentlessly like a bird, those who are my enemies without cause.

KJVMine enemies^H341^(H8802) chased^H6679^(H8804) me sore^H6679^(H8800), like a bird^H6833, without cause^H2600.

⁵³ They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and have cast a stone on me.

KJVThey have cut off^H6789^(H8804) my life^H2416 in the dungeon^H953, and cast^H3034^(H8762) a stone^H68 upon me.

⁵⁴ Waters flowed over my head. I said, “I am cut off.”

KJVWaters^H4325 flowed over^H6687^(H8804) mine head^H7218; then I said^H559^(H8804), I am cut off^H1504^(H8738).

⁵⁵ I called on your name, Yahweh, out of the lowest dungeon.

KJVI called^H7121^(H8804) upon thy name^H8034, O LORD^H3068, out of the low^H8482 dungeon^H953.

⁵⁶ You heard my voice: “Don’t hide your ear from my sighing, and my cry.”

KJVThou hast heard^H8085^(H8804) my voice^H6963: hide^H5956^(H8686) not thine ear^H241 at my breathing^H7309, at my cry^H7775.

⁵⁷ You came near in the day that I called on you. You said, “Don’t be afraid.”

KJVThou drewest near^H7126^(H8804) in the day^H3117 that I called^H7121^(H8799) upon thee: thou saidst^H559^(H8804), Fear^H3372^(H8799) not.

⁵⁸ Lord, you have pleaded the causes of my soul. You have redeemed my life.

KJVO Lord^H136, thou hast pleaded^H7378^(H8804) the causes^H7379 of my soul^H5315; thou hast redeemed^H1350^(H8804) my life^H2416.

⁵⁹ Yahweh, you have seen my wrong. Judge my cause.

KJVO LORD^H3068, thou hast seen^H7200^(H8804) my wrong^H5792: judge^H8199^(H8798) thou my cause^H4941.

⁶⁰ You have seen all their vengeance and all their plans against me.

KJVThou hast seen^H7200^(H8804) all their vengeance^H5360 and all their imaginations^H4284 against me.

⁶¹ You have heard their reproach, Yahweh, and all their plans against me,

KJVThou hast heard^H8085^(H8804) their reproach^H2781, O LORD^H3068, and all their imaginations^H4284 against me;

⁶² the lips of those that rose up against me, and their plots against me all day long.

KJVThe lips^H8193 of those that rose up^H6965^(H8801) against me, and their device^H1902 against me all the day^H3117.

⁶³ You see their sitting down and their rising up. I am their song.

KJVBehold^H5027^(H8685) their sitting down^H3427^(H8800), and their rising up^H7012; I am their musick^H4485.

⁶⁴ You will pay them back, Yahweh, according to the work of their hands.

KJVRender^H7725^(H8686) unto them a recompence^H1576, O LORD^H3068, according to the work^H4639 of their hands^H3027.

⁶⁵ You will give them hardness of heart, your curse to them.

KJVGive^H5414^(H8799) them sorrow^H4044 of heart^H3820, thy curse^H8381 unto them.

⁶⁶ You will pursue them in anger, and destroy them from under the heavens of Yahweh.

KJVPersecute^H7291^(H8799) and destroy^H8045^(H8686) them in anger^H639 from under the heavens^H8064 of the LORD^H3068.

Section titles come from the Biblion commentary, not from Scripture.

You can also read or listen to the Introduction to the book of Lamentations.