Lamentations 4:7-9

New King James Version

⁷Her ^[a]Nazirites were ^[b]brighter than snow
And whiter than milk;
They were more ruddy in body than rubies,
Like sapphire in their ^[c]appearance.

⁸Now their appearance is blacker than soot;
They go unrecognized in the streets;
^(A)Their skin clings to their bones,
It has become as dry as wood.

⁹Those slain by the sword are better off
Than those who die of hunger;
For these ^(B)pine away,
Stricken for lack of the fruits of the ^(C)field.

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Footnotes

Lamentations 4:7 Or nobles
Lamentations 4:7 Or purer
Lamentations 4:7 Lit. polishing

Lamentations 4:7-9

New International Version

⁷Their princes were brighter than snow
and whiter than milk,
their bodies more ruddy than rubies,
their appearance like lapis lazuli.

⁸But now they are blacker^(A) than soot;
they are not recognized in the streets.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones;^(B)
it has become as dry as a stick.

⁹Those killed by the sword are better off
than those who die of famine;^(C)
racked with hunger, they waste away
for lack of food from the field.^(D)

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