## Lamentations Chapter 4

###### Lamentations 4:1
[Lamentations 4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:1)

אֵיכָה֙ יוּעַ֣ם זָהָ֔ב יִשְׁנֶ֖א הַכֶּ֣תֶם הַטּ֑וֹב תִּשְׁתַּפֵּ֙כְנָה֙ אַבְנֵי־קֹ֔דֶשׁ בְּרֹ֖אשׁ כׇּל־חוּצֽוֹת׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
How can it be that the golden glow has paled, that the splendid jewel is altered? Sacred gems are spilled at the head of every street.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the hallowed stones are poured out at the top of every street.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
How is the gold [(the face of King Yoshiyahu, which glowed like gold)] dulled! [How is] the fine gold transformed! [viz. Chronicles 35:25], the hallowed stones [(young men who shone like precious stones)] spilled out at the head of every street!


###### Lamentations 4:2
[Lamentations 4:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:2)

בְּנֵ֤י צִיּוֹן֙ הַיְקָרִ֔ים הַמְסֻלָּאִ֖ים בַּפָּ֑ז אֵיכָ֤ה נֶחְשְׁבוּ֙ לְנִבְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶשׂ מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֥י יוֹצֵֽר׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
The cherished children of *Tzion,* who were evaluated in golden currency—how can they be considered like flasks of clay, the potter’s handiwork?

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The precious sons of Żiyyon, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The precious sons of Zion, valued as fine gold — how are they become as earthen jugs, the work of the potter!


###### Lamentations 4:3
[Lamentations 4:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:3)

גַּם־[תַּנִּים֙] (תנין) חָ֣לְצוּ שַׁ֔ד הֵינִ֖יקוּ גּוּרֵיהֶ֑ן בַּת־עַמִּ֣י לְאַכְזָ֔ר (כי ענים) [כַּיְעֵינִ֖ים] בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Even the serpent bares its breast to nurse its young, yet the daughters of my people have become brutal, like the desert ostrich.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
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.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Even the jackals draw out the breast; they give suck to their young ones. The daughter of my people has become cruel [(They deafen themselves to the cries of their starving children to assuage their own hunger)], like ostriches in the wilderness.


###### Lamentations 4:4
[Lamentations 4:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:4)

דָּבַ֨ק לְשׁ֥וֹן יוֹנֵ֛ק אֶל־חִכּ֖וֹ בַּצָּמָ֑א עֽוֹלָלִים֙ שָׁ֣אֲלוּ לֶ֔חֶם פֹּרֵ֖שׂ אֵ֥ין לָהֶֽם׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
The tongue of the nursing infant pasted to its palate with thirst, babies pleaded for bread, but no one offered it to them.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man gives it to them.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The tongue of the nursing child cleaves to its palate in thirst. Young children begged for bread. There is no one to break it for them.


###### Lamentations 4:5
[Lamentations 4:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:5)

הָאֹֽכְלִים֙ לְמַ֣עֲדַנִּ֔ים נָשַׁ֖מּוּ בַּחוּצ֑וֹת הָאֱמֻנִים֙ עֲלֵ֣י תוֹלָ֔ע חִבְּק֖וּ אַשְׁפַּתּֽוֹת׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Those who feasted on delicacies were ravaged in the streets, those raised on richly colored brocade embraced the dungheaps.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
They that did feed on dainties are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Those who were fed on delicacies expired in the streets. Those who were reared in scarlet embraced the dung hills.


###### Lamentations 4:6
[Lamentations 4:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:6)

וַיִּגְדַּל֙ עֲוֺ֣ן בַּת־עַמִּ֔י מֵֽחַטַּ֖את סְדֹ֑ם הַֽהֲפוּכָ֣ה כְמוֹ־רָ֔גַע וְלֹא־חָ֥לוּ בָ֖הּ יָדָֽיִם׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
My people’s transgressions surpassed the sins of S’dom, which was instantaneously overturned, untouched by [human] hands.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
For the doom of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sedom, that was overthrown as in a moment, no hands being laid upon her.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And the transgression of the daughter of my people [(judging from the severity and duration of its punishment)] was greater than the sins of Sodom, which was overturned but in a moment, the hands [of enemies] not prevailing in her [(but those of angels)].


###### Lamentations 4:7
[Lamentations 4:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:7)

זַכּ֤וּ נְזִירֶ֙יהָ֙ מִשֶּׁ֔לֶג צַח֖וּ מֵחָלָ֑ב אָ֤דְמוּ עֶ֙צֶם֙ מִפְּנִינִ֔ים סַפִּ֖יר גִּזְרָתָֽם׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Her nazirites were more pristine than snow, more lustrous than milk. Those who appeared redder than pearls, who were hewn like sapphire—

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Her Nazirites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire:

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Her [(Jerusalem's)] Nazirites were purer than snow, whiter than milk, ruddier than rubies, formed as the sapphire.


###### Lamentations 4:8
[Lamentations 4:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:8)

חָשַׁ֤ךְ מִשְּׁחוֹר֙ תׇּֽאֳרָ֔ם לֹ֥א נִכְּר֖וּ בַּחוּצ֑וֹת צָפַ֤ד עוֹרָם֙ עַל־עַצְמָ֔ם יָבֵ֖שׁ הָיָ֥ה כָעֵֽץ׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Have become blacker than charcoal in appearance, are unrecognizable in the streets. Their skin is shrivelled on their bones, having become dry as wood.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
now their visage is blacker than coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin is shrivelled upon their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
[But now,] darker than coal is their visage; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin is shriveled upon them; it has become dry as a stick.


###### Lamentations 4:9
[Lamentations 4:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:9)

טוֹבִ֤ים הָיוּ֙ חַלְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶב מֵֽחַלְלֵ֖י רָעָ֑ב שֶׁ֣הֵ֤ם יָזֻ֙בוּ֙ מְדֻקָּרִ֔ים מִתְּנוּבֹ֖ת שָׂדָֽי׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
They were at an advantage—those who died by the sword—over those who died of starvation, for they dripped, with burst bellies, from [eating] the produce of the fields.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Those slain with the sword are better than those slain with hunger: for when pierced through, the former do ooze with the produce of the fields.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
More fortunate were those slain by the sword than those slain by hunger. For they [(the latter)] oozed [excrement] when [their bellies] split [(from hunger and)] from the fruits of the field [i.e., from the roots and grasses that they were forced to subsist on].


###### Lamentations 4:10
[Lamentations 4:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:10)

יְדֵ֗י נָשִׁים֙ רַחֲמָ֣נִיּ֔וֹת בִּשְּׁל֖וּ יַלְדֵיהֶ֑ן הָי֤וּ לְבָרוֹת֙ לָ֔מוֹ בְּשֶׁ֖בֶר בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
The hands of merciful women cooked their children. They became their food, when my people disintegrated.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children: they were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The hands of merciful women boiled their children. They were a meal to them in the breaking of the daughter of my people.


###### Lamentations 4:11
[Lamentations 4:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:11)

כִּלָּ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־חֲמָת֔וֹ שָׁפַ֖ךְ חֲר֣וֹן אַפּ֑וֹ וַיַּצֶּת־אֵ֣שׁ בְּצִיּ֔וֹן וַתֹּ֖אכַל יְסֹדֹתֶֽיהָ׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
God spent His wrath, poured out His rage. He ignited a blaze in *Tzion,* and it consumed its foundations.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The Lord has accomplished his fury; he has poured out his fierce anger, and has kindled a fire in Żiyyon and it has devoured its foundations.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The L-rd has consummated His wrath [(which burned in Him for many years)]. He has poured out His burning wrath. And He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has consumed her foundations.


###### Lamentations 4:12
[Lamentations 4:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:12)

לֹ֤א הֶאֱמִ֙ינוּ֙ מַלְכֵי־אֶ֔רֶץ (וכל) [כֹּ֖ל] יֹשְׁבֵ֣י תֵבֵ֑ל כִּ֤י יָבֹא֙ צַ֣ר וְאוֹיֵ֔ב בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
The kings of the earth did not believe nor did all the residents of the world [believe] that an oppressor or an enemy could enter the portals of Jerusalem.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy would enter the gates of Yerushalayim.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The kings of the earth could not believe, and all the inhabitants of the world, that the oppressor and the foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.


###### Lamentations 4:13
[Lamentations 4:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:13)

מֵֽחַטֹּ֣אות נְבִיאֶ֔יהָ עֲוֺנֹ֖ת כֹּהֲנֶ֑יהָ הַשֹּׁפְכִ֥ים בְּקִרְבָּ֖הּ דַּ֥ם צַדִּיקִֽים׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
For the sins of her false prophets, the transgressions of her *kohanim,* who spilled, within her, the blood of the righteous.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
It was for the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, who shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Because of the sins of her prophets, the transgressions of her priests, the spilling in her midst of the blood of the righteous.


###### Lamentations 4:14
[Lamentations 4:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:14)

נָע֤וּ עִוְרִים֙ בַּֽחוּצ֔וֹת נְגֹֽאֲל֖וּ בַּדָּ֑ם בְּלֹ֣א יֽוּכְל֔וּ יִגְּע֖וּ בִּלְבֻשֵׁיהֶֽם׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
The blind slithered in the streets, filthied with blood, so that no one could bear touching their garments.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
They wandered blind through the streets, polluted with blood, so that none could touch their garments.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The blind wandered in the streets, smeared with the blood [(of the slain, on which they slipped)]. [Their kin,] being unable to touch their garments —


###### Lamentations 4:15
[Lamentations 4:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:15)

ס֣וּרוּ טָמֵ֞א קָ֣רְאוּ לָ֗מוֹ ס֤וּרוּ ס֙וּרוּ֙ אַל־תִּגָּ֔עוּ כִּ֥י נָצ֖וּ גַּם־נָ֑עוּ אָֽמְרוּ֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם לֹ֥א יוֹסִ֖פוּ לָגֽוּר׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
“Get away, you are contaminated!” they shouted at them. Get away, get away, don’t touch!”, for they were obscene and slithering. They said, among the nations, “They will no longer reside here.”

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Away! unclean! they cried at them; away! away! do not touch. So they fled, and wandered away: among the nations it was said, They shall no longer sojourn here.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Away! unclean ones, they cried out to them. Away! Away! do not touch. For they were befouled; they had also slipped [on the blood]. They said among the nations: They will not continue to live [here].


###### Lamentations 4:16
[Lamentations 4:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:16)

פְּנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ חִלְּקָ֔ם לֹ֥א יוֹסִ֖יף לְהַבִּיטָ֑ם פְּנֵ֤י כֹהֲנִים֙ לֹ֣א נָשָׂ֔אוּ (זקנים) [וּזְקֵנִ֖ים] לֹ֥א חָנָֽנוּ׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
In Adonoy’s glaring anger, He dispersed them; He will no longer pay attention to them, because they did not venerate the *kohanim,* nor oblige the elders.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The anger of the Lord has divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they were not gracious to the elders.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The face [(of wrath)] of the L-rd has divided them [(among the nations)]. He will look on them no more, [for] they did not respect the priests; they were not gracious to the elders [(when they were at peace)].


###### Lamentations 4:17
[Lamentations 4:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:17)

(עודינה) [עוֹדֵ֙ינוּ֙] תִּכְלֶ֣ינָה עֵינֵ֔ינוּ אֶל־עֶזְרָתֵ֖נוּ הָ֑בֶל בְּצִפִּיָּתֵ֣נוּ צִפִּ֔ינוּ אֶל־גּ֖וֹי לֹ֥א יוֹשִֽׁעַ׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
We persisted in longingly eyeing illusive reinforcements, our yearning was for a nation that would never come to our aid.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
As for us, our eyes do yet fail for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
[When the evil came upon us,] our eyes yet looked out for our vain help [(Egypt)], keeping a watch for a nation that would not save.


###### Lamentations 4:18
[Lamentations 4:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:18)

צָד֣וּ צְעָדֵ֔ינוּ מִלֶּ֖כֶת בִּרְחֹבֹתֵ֑ינוּ קָרַ֥ב קִצֵּ֛נוּ מָלְא֥וּ יָמֵ֖ינוּ כִּי־בָ֥א קִצֵּֽנוּ׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
They lurked behind our footsteps, so that we couldn’t walk our streets, [we felt that] our end was near, our time was up, we were finished.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
They hunt our steps, that we cannot walk in our broad places: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
They [(our enemies)] spied out our steps against walking in our broad places. Our end has drawn near. Our days have run full, for our end has come.


###### Lamentations 4:19
[Lamentations 4:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:19)

קַלִּ֤ים הָיוּ֙ רֹדְפֵ֔ינוּ מִנִּשְׁרֵ֖י שָׁמָ֑יִם עַל־הֶהָרִ֣ים דְּלָקֻ֔נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר אָ֥רְבוּ לָֽנוּ׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles in the skies. They hounded us on the hills, laid ambush for us in the wilderness.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Our pursuers were swifter than the vultures in the sky: they chased us upon the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Swifter were our pursuers than the eagles in the heavens. On the mountains they chased us; in the desert they lay in wait for us.


###### Lamentations 4:20
[Lamentations 4:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:20)

ר֤וּחַ אַפֵּ֙ינוּ֙ מְשִׁ֣יחַ יְהֹוָ֔ה נִלְכַּ֖ד בִּשְׁחִיתוֹתָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔רְנוּ בְּצִלּ֖וֹ נִֽחְיֶ֥ה בַגּוֹיִֽם׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
The breath of our nostrils, Adonoy’s anointed, was ensnared in their pitfalls, when we thought that under His shelter, we would survive among the nations.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
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 nations.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the L-rd [(King Yoshiyahu, viz. II Chronicles 35:25)] was caught in their pits — he of whom we said: Under his [(protective)] shadow shall we live among the nations.


###### Lamentations 4:21
[Lamentations 4:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:21)

שִׂ֤ישִׂי וְשִׂמְחִי֙ בַּת־אֱד֔וֹם (יושבתי) [יוֹשֶׁ֖בֶת] בְּאֶ֣רֶץ ע֑וּץ גַּם־עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ תַּעֲבׇר־כּ֔וֹס תִּשְׁכְּרִ֖י וְתִתְעָרִֽי׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Rejoice in gladness, city of Edom, residing in the land of Utz—unto you, as well, shall the come to pass, intoxicating you till you vomit.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of ῾Uż; the cup shall also pass over to thee: thou shalt be drunken, and strip thyself bare.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
[(Jeremiah now prophesies the destruction of the second Temple by the Romans:)] Rejoice and regale, O daughter of Edom, dweller in the land of Utz, [but] over you, too, will pass the cup [(of punishment)]. You will become drunk [on it] and vomit [it up]!


###### Lamentations 4:22
[Lamentations 4:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Lamentations/r/4:22)

תַּם־עֲוֺנֵךְ֙ בַּת־צִיּ֔וֹן לֹ֥א יוֹסִ֖יף לְהַגְלוֹתֵ֑ךְ פָּקַ֤ד עֲוֺנֵךְ֙ בַּת־אֱד֔וֹם גִּלָּ֖ה עַל־חַטֹּאתָֽיִךְ׃{פ}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
You have been fully chastised for your sins, city of *Tzion.* He will never exile you again. He remembers your sins, city of Edom, your iniquity is exposed.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The punishment of thy iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Żiyyon; he will no more carry thee away into exile: he will visit thy iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will uncover thy sins.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Your transgression is ended, O daughter of Zion [i.e., you have been punished for all of your sins]; He will exile you no more — He has remembered your transgression, O daughter of Edom; He has bared all of your sins [(for punishment)].