Lamentations 4

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4:1 How 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.
4:2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter! 4:3 Even 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.
4:4 The 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.
4:5 They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
4:6 For 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.
4:7 Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire: 4:8 Their 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.
4:9 They 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.
4:10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
4:11 The 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.
4:12 The 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.
4:13 For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her, 4:14 They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.
4:15 They 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.
4:16 The 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.
4:17 As 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.
4:18 They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
4:19 Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
4:20 The 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.
4:21 Rejoice 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.
4:22 The 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.


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Everything King James Bible:Lamentations

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Lamentations
Book: Lamentations
Chapter: 4

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

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.

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.

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.