Lamentaciones 4
Bible in Basic English
1How dark has the gold become! how changed the best gold! the stones of the holy place are dropping out at the top of every street.
2The valued sons of Zion, whose price was the best gold, are looked on as vessels of earth, the work of the hands of the potter!
3Even the beasts of the waste land have full breasts, they give milk to their young ones: the daughter of my people has become cruel like the ostriches in the waste land.
4The tongue of the child at the breast is fixed to the roof of his mouth for need of drink: the young children are crying out for bread, and no man gives it to them.
5Those who were used to feasting on delicate food are wasted in the streets: those who as children were dressed in purple are stretched out on the dust.
6For the punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of Sodom, which was overturned suddenly without any hand falling on her.
7Her holy ones were cleaner than snow, they were whiter than milk, their bodies were redder than corals, their form was as the sapphire:
8Their face is blacker than night; in the streets no one has knowledge of them: their skin is hanging on their bones, they are dry, they have become like wood.
9Those who have been put to the sword are better off than those whose death is caused by need of food; for these come to death slowly, burned up like the fruit of the field.
10The hands of kind-hearted women have been boiling their children; they were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11The Lord has given full effect to his passion, he has let loose his burning wrath; he has made a fire in Zion, causing the destruction of its bases.
12To the kings of the earth and to all the people of the world it did not seem possible that the attackers and the haters would go into the doors of Jerusalem.
13It is because of the sins of her prophets and the evil-doing of her priests, by whom the blood of the upright has been drained out in her.
14They are wandering like blind men in the streets, they are made unclean with blood, so that their robes may not be touched by men.
15Away! unclean! they were crying out to them, Away! away! let there be no touching: when they went away in flight and wandering, men said among the nations, There is no further resting-place for them.
16The face of the Lord has sent them in all directions; he will no longer take care of them: they had no respect for the priests, they gave no honour to the old men.
17Our eyes are still wasting away in looking for our false help: we have been watching for a nation unable to give salvation.
18They go after our steps so that we may not go in our streets: our end is near, our days are numbered; for our end has come.
19Those who went after us were quicker than the eagles of the heaven, driving us before them on the mountains, waiting secretly for us in the waste land.
20Our breath of life, he on whom the holy oil was put, was taken in their holes; of whom we said, Under his shade we will be living among the nations.
21Have joy and be glad, O daughter of Edom, living in the land of Uz: the cup will be given to you in your turn, and you will be overcome with wine and your shame will be seen.
22The punishment of your evil-doing is complete, O daughter of Zion; never again will he take you away as a prisoner: he will give you the reward of your evil-doing, O daughter of Edom; he will let your sin be uncovered.
Reina-Valera 1909
1¡CÓMO se ha oscurecido el oro! ¡Cómo el buen oro se ha demudado! Las piedras del santuario están esparcidas por las encrucijadas de todas las calles.
2Los hijos de Sión, preciados y estimados más que el oro puro, ¡cómo son tenidos por vasos de barro, obra de manos de alfarero!
3Aun los monstruos marinos sacan la teta, dan de mamar á sus chiquitos: la hija de mi pueblo es cruel, como los avestruces en el desierto.
4La lengua del niño de teta, de sed se pegó á su paladar: los chiquitos pidieron pan, y no hubo quien se lo partiese.
5Los que comían delicadamente, asolados fueron en las calles; los que se criaron en carmesí, abrazaron los estercoleros.
6Y aumentóse la iniquidad de la hija de mi pueblo más que el pecado de Sodoma, que fué trastornada en un momento, y no asentaron sobre ella compañías.
7Sus Nazareos fueron blancos más que la nieve, más lustrosos que la leche, su compostura más rubicunda que los rubíes, más bellos que el zafiro:
8Oscura más que la negrura es la forma de ellos; no los conocen por las calles: su piel está pegada á sus huesos, seca como un palo.
9Más dichosos fueron los muertos á cuchillo que los muertos del hambre; porque éstos murieron poco á poco por falta de los frutos de la tierra.
10Las manos de las mujeres piadosas cocieron á sus hijos; fuéronles comida en el quebrantamiento de la hija de mi pueblo.
11Cumplió Jehová su enojo, derramó el ardor de su ira; y encendió fuego en Sión, que consumió sus fundamentos.
12Nunca los reyes de la tierra, ni todos los que habitan en el mundo, creyeron que el enemigo y el adversario entrara por las puertas de Jerusalem.
13Es por los pecados de sus profetas, por las maldades de sus sacerdotes, que derramaron en medio de ella la sangre de los justos.
14Titubearon como ciegos en las calles, fueron contaminados en sangre, de modo que no pudiesen tocar á sus vestiduras.
15Apartaos ¡inmundos!, les gritaban, Apartaos, apartaos, no toquéis. Cuando huyeron y fueron dispersos, dijeron entre las gentes: Nunca más morarán aquí.
16La ira de Jehová los apartó, no los mirará más: no respetaron la faz de los sacerdotes, ni tuvieron compasión de los viejos.
17Aun nos han desfallecido nuestros ojos tras nuestro vano socorro: en nuestra esperanza aguardamos gente que no puede salvar.
18Cazaron nuestros pasos, que no anduviésemos por nuestras calles: acercóse nuestro fin, cumpliéronse nuestros días; porque nuestro fin vino.
19Ligeros fueron nuestros perseguidores más que las águilas del cielo: sobre los montes nos persiguieron, en el desierto nos pusieron emboscadas.
20El resuello de nuestras narices, el ungido de Jehová, de quien habíamos dicho: A su sombra tendremos vida entre las gentes: fué preso en sus hoyos.
21Gózate y alégrate, hija de Edom, la que habitas en tierra de Hus: aun hasta ti pasará el cáliz; embriagarte has, y vomitarás.
22Cumplido es tu castigo, oh hija de Sión: nunca más te hará trasportar. Visitará tu iniquidad, oh hija de Edom; descubrirá tus pecados.
King James Version
1How 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.
2The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3Even 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.
4The 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.
5They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
6For 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.
7Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
8Their 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.
9They 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.
10The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11The 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.
12The 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.
13For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,
14They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.
15They 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.
16The 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.
17As 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.
18They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
19Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
20The 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.
21Rejoice 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.
22The 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.
World English Bible
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.
2The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how they are esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3Even 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.
4The 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.
5Those who ate delicacies are desolate in the streets. Those who were brought up in purple embrace dunghills.
6For 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.
7Her nobles were purer than snow. They were whiter than milk. They were more ruddy in body than rubies. Their polishing was like sapphire.
8Their 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.
9Those 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.
10The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children. They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11The LORD has accomplished his wrath. He has poured out his fierce anger. He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations.
12The 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.
13It 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.
14They wander as blind men in the streets. They are polluted with blood, So that men can’t touch their garments.
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.”
16The LORD’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.
17Our eyes still fail, looking in vain for our help. In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
18They 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.
19Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky. They chased us on the mountains. They set an ambush for us in the wilderness.
20The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits; of whom we said, under his shadow we will live among the nations.
21Rejoice 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.
22The 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.