7 Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires. 8 But now their appearance is 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 slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce.
Lamentations 4:7–9
Semantically similar passages
Job 33:20–22
20 so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food. 21 His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude. 22 He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.
Judith 7:13–15
13 because all the inhabitants of Bethulia get their water from there. Then thirst will kill them, and they will give up their city. Then we and our people will go up to the tops of the mountains that are near, and will camp upon them, to watch that not one man… (WEB) 14 … (WEB)
Lamentations 5:9–11
9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the wilderness. 10 Our skin is as hot as an oven with fever from our hunger. 11 Women have been ravished in Zion, virgins in the cities of Judah.
Baruch 2:24–26
24 But we wouldn’t listen to your voice, to serve the king of Babylon. Therefore you have made good your words that you spoke by your servants the prophets, that the bones of our kings and the bones of our fathers would be taken out of their places. (WEB) 25 Behold, they… (WEB) 26 … (WEB)
2 Esdras 16:33–35
33 The virgins will mourn, having no bridegrooms. The women will mourn, having no husbands. Their daughters will mourn, having no helpers. (WEB) 34 Their bridegrooms will be destroyed in the wars, and their husbands will perish of famine. (WEB) 35 Hear now these things, and underst… (WEB)
Lamentations 4:13–15
13 But this was for the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in her midst. 14 They wandered blind in the streets, defiled by this blood, so that no one dared to touch their garments. 15 “Go away! Unclean!” men shouted at…
Numbers 12:11–13
11 and said to Moses, “My lord, please do not hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed. 12 Please do not let her be like a stillborn infant whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb.” 13 So Moses cried out to the LORD, “O God, pl…
Lamentations 4:1–3
1 How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner. 2 How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands! 3 E…
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