---
title: Joseph Smith Translation (1867 edition)
description: Lamentations from the Joseph Smith Translation (JST), 1867 edition.
authors:
  - Smith, Joseph, Jr.
collections:
  - joseph-smith
tags:
  - translation
published: "1867"
publisher: RLDS Publication Board
publisher_place: Plano, Illinois
publisher_note: "The title page reads: Published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; Joseph Smith, I. L. Rogers, E. Robinson, Publishing Committee; 1867."
edition: First edition (Plano, 1867)
language: en
type: book
chapter: 4
verse_count: 22
reference: "Joseph Smith Jr., *Joseph Smith Translation*, first edition (Plano, IL: RLDS Publication Board, 1867), Lamentations, chap. 4, https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft."
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft
  identifier: holyscripturestr00smituoft
  scan: University of Toronto / Trinity College Library copy, Internet Archive
  transcription: "OCR text of the 1867 scans (Toronto copy and a second copy, holyscriptures00smit), reconciled word by word; Romans was also checked against the page images. Method, per-chapter validation log and known limits: docs/jst-1867-import.md."
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: 1867 US publication
  source: https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft
  publication_year: 1867
---

# Lamentations 4

*Judgments foi' sin— Sins confessed Blessings promised.*

**1** How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! I the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
**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!
**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** 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.
**5** They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets; they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
**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.
**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.
**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.
**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.
**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,
**14** They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.
**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.
**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.
**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.
**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.
**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.
**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.
**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.
**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.