Lamentations 4:8–9

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.

8 Now their face 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 the victims of the sword

than the victims of hunger,

who wasted away, pierced

by lack of the fruits of the field.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.