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Lamentations 4

1.How is the agold become so ^dim? the most fine gold is changed, and the stones of the Sanctuary are scattered in the corner of every street.
2.The noble ^men of Zión comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen bpitchers, even the work of the hands of the potter!
3.Even the dragons cdraw out the breasts, and give suck to their young, but the daughter of my people is become cruel like the dostriches in the wilderness.
4.The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, but no man breaketh it unto them.
5.They that did feed delicately, perish in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet, embrace the dung.
6.For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is become greater then *the sin of Sodóm, that was destroyed as in a moment, and ^none pitched camps against her.
7.Her Nazarites were purer then the snow, and whiter then the milk: they were more ruddy in body, then the red precious stones: they were like polished sapphire.
8.Now their evisage is blacker then a coal: they can not know them in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones: it is withered, like a stock.
9.They that be slain with the sword are better, then they that are killed with hunger: for they fade away as they were stricken through for the ffruits of the field.
10.The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children, which were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11.The Lord hath accomplished his indignation: he hath poured out his fierce wrath, he hath kindled a fire in Zión, which hath devoured the foundations thereof.
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 Jerusalém:
13.For the sins of her Prophets, and the iniquities of her Priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the middes of gher.
14.They have wandered as blind men hin the streets, & they were polluted with blood, so that ithey would not touch their garments.
15.But they cried unto them, Depart, ye polluted, depart, depart, touch not: therefore they fled away, and wandered: they have said among the heathen, They shall no more dwell there.
16.The ^anger of the Lord hath scattered them, he will no more regard them: kthey reverenced not the face of the Priests, nor had compassion of the Elders.
17.Whiles we waited for our vain help, our eyes failed: for in our waiting we looked for la nation that could not save us.
18.They hunt our steps that we can not go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled, for our end is come.
19.Our persecutors are swifter then the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, and lay wait, for us in the wilderness.
20.The mbreath of our nostrils, the Anointed of the Lord was taken in their nets, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shalbe preserved alive among the heathen.
21.Rejoice and be glad, nô daughter Edóm, that dwellest in the land of Uz, the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken ^and vomit.
22.Thy punishment is accomplished, ô daughter Zion: he owill nomore carry thee away into captivity, but he will visit thine iniquity, ô daughter Edóm, he will discover thy sins.

Notes

1-^.
Or, hid.
1-a.
By the gold he means the Princes, as by the stones he understands the Priests.
2-^.
Or, sons.
2-b.
Which are of small estimation and have none honour.
3-c.
Though the dragons be cruel, yet they pity their young and nourish them: which thing Jerusalem does not.
3-d.
The women forsake their children as the ostrich does her eggs, Job. 39.17.
6-*.
Gen. 19.25.
6-^.
Or, no strength was against her.
8-e.
They that were before most in God’s favour, are now in greatest abomination unto him, Num. 6.2.
9-f.
For lack of food they pine away, and consume.
13-g.
He means that these things are come to pass therefore, contrary to all men’s expectation.
14-h.
Some refer this to the blind men, which as they went, stumbled on the blood, whereof the city was full.
14-i.
Meaning, the heathen which came to destroy them, could not abide them.
16-^.
Or, face.
16-k.
That is, the enemies.
17-l.
He shows two principle causes of their destruction: their cruelty, and their vain confidence in man: for they trusted in the help of the Egyptians.
20-m.
Our King Josiah, in whom stood our hope of God’s favour, and on whom depended our state and life, was slain whom he called anointed, because he was a figure of Christ.
21-^.
Or, show your nakedness.
21-n.
This is spoken by derision.
22-o.
He comforts the Church by that after seventy years their sorrows shall have an end, where as the wicked shall be tormented forever.