Lamentations 4:7–10

7 Their princes were brighter than snow

and whiter than milk,

their bodies more ruddy than rubies,

their appearance like lapis lazuli.

8 But now they are blacker than soot;

they are not recognized in the streets.

Their skin has shriveled on their bones;

it has become as dry as a stick.

9 Those killed by the sword are better off

than those who die of famine;

racked with hunger, they waste away

for lack of food from the field.

10 With their own hands compassionate women

have cooked their own children,

who became their food

when my people were destroyed.

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:

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.

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.

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.

7 Our princes once glowed with health—

brighter than snow, whiter than milk.

Their faces were as ruddy as rubies,

their appearance like fine jewels.

8 But now their faces are blacker than soot.

No one recognizes them in the streets.

Their skin sticks to their bones;

it is as dry and hard as wood.

9 Those killed by the sword are better off

than those who die of hunger.

Starving, they waste away

for lack of food from the fields.

10 Tenderhearted women

have cooked their own children.

They have eaten them

to survive the siege.

7 Her Nazirites were brighter than snow

And whiter than milk;

They were more ruddy in body than rubies,

Like sapphire in their appearance.

8 Now their appearance is blacker than soot;

They go unrecognized in the streets;

Their skin clings to their bones,

It has become as dry as wood.

9 Those slain by the sword are better off

Than those who die of hunger;

For these pine away,

Stricken for lack of the fruits of the field.

10 The hands of the compassionate women

Have cooked their own children;

They became food for them

In the destruction of the daughter of my people.

7 Our princes were purer than snow,

and whiter than milk.

Their bodies were redder than rubies;

they looked like sapphires.

8 But now they are blacker than coal,

and no one recognizes them in the streets.

Their skin hangs on their bones;

it is as dry as wood.

9 Those who were killed in the war were better off

than those killed by hunger.

They starve in pain and die,

because there is no food from the field.

10 With their own hands kind women

cook their own children.

They became food

when my people were destroyed.

7 Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk;

They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.

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.

9 They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger;

For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.

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.

7 Her Nazarites were purer than snow, whiter than milk; they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their figure was as sapphire. 8 Their visage is darker than blackness, they are not known in the streets; their skin cleaveth to their bones, it is withered, it is become like a stick. 9 The slain with the sword are happier than the slain with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field. 10 The hands of pitiful women have boiled their own children: they were their meat in the ruin of the daughter of my people.

7 Zion’s princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk. 

Their bodies were more pink than coral. 

Their hair was like sapphires. 

8 Their faces are ⸤now⸥ blacker than soot. 

No one recognizes them on the streets. 

Their skin has shriveled on their bones. 

It has become as dry as bark. 

9 Those who were killed with swords are better off 

than those who are dying from starvation. 

Those who were stabbed bled to death. 

The others are dying because there is nothing in the fields to eat. 

10 The hands of loving mothers cooked their own children. 

The children were used for food by my people 

when they were being destroyed ⸤by a blockade⸥. 

7 Her dignitaries were brighter than snow,

whiter than milk;

their bodies were more ruddy than coral,

their appearance like sapphire.

8 Now they appear darker than soot;

they are not recognized in the streets.

Their skin has shriveled on their bones;

it has become dry like wood.

9 Those slain by the sword are better off

than those slain by hunger,

who waste away, pierced with pain

because the fields lack produce.

10 The hands of compassionate women

have cooked their own children;

they became their food

during the destruction of my dear people.

7 Her princes were purer than snow,

whiter than milk;

their bodies were more ruddy than coral,

their form cut like sapphire.

8 Now their visage is blacker than soot;

they are not recognized in the streets.

Their skin has shriveled on their bones;

it has become as dry as wood.

9 Happier were those pierced by the sword

than those pierced by hunger,

whose life drains away, deprived

of the produce of the field.

10 The hands of compassionate women

have boiled their own children;

they became their food

in the destruction of my people.

7 Her princes were purer than snow,

they were whiter than milk;

their bodies were more ruddy than rubies,

sapphire their appearance.

8 Now their appearance is blacker than soot,

they are not recognized in the streets;

their skin has shriveled on their bones,

it has become dry like wood.

9 Happier were the victims of the sword

than the victims of famine;

they have pined away, very hungry

for the crops of my field.

10 The hands of compassionate women,

have cooked their children;

they became as something to eat

in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

7 Jerusalem’s princes were brighter than snow.

They were whiter than milk.

Their bodies were redder than rubies.

They looked like sapphires.

8 But now they are blacker than coal.

No one even recognizes them in the streets.

Their skin is wrinkled on their bones.

It has become as dry as a stick.

9 Those who have been killed with swords are better off

than those who have to die of hunger.

Those who are hungry waste away to nothing.

They don’t have any food from the fields.

10 With their own hands, loving mothers

have had to cook even their own children.

They ate their children

when my people were destroyed.

7 Her consecrated ones were purer than snow,

They were whiter than milk;

They were more ruddy in body than corals,

Their polishing was like lapis lazuli.

8 Their appearance is blacker than soot,

They are not recognized in the streets;

Their skin is shriveled on their bones,

It is withered, it has become like wood.

9 Better are those slain with the sword

Than those slain with hunger;

For they pine away, being stricken

For lack of the fruits of the field.

10 The hands of compassionate women

Boiled their own children;

They became food for them

Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.