Lamentations 4:4 nasb — The tongue of the infant cleaves To the roof of its mouth because of thirst; The little ones ask for bread, But no one…

NASB

"The tongue of the infant cleaves To the roof of its mouth because of thirst; The little ones ask for bread, But no one breaks it for them."

— Lamentations 4:4, NASB

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Lamentations 4:4 in Other Translations

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Lamentations 4 — Context

1

How dark the gold has become, How the pure gold has changed! The sacred stones are poured out At the corner of every street.

2

The precious sons of Zion, Weighed against fine gold, How they are regarded as earthen jars, The work of a potter's hands!

3

Even jackals offer the breast, They nurse their young; But the daughter of my people has become cruel Like ostriches in the wilderness.

4

The tongue of the infant cleaves To the roof of its mouth because of thirst; The little ones ask for bread, But no one breaks it for them.

5

Those who ate delicacies Are desolate in the streets; Those reared in purple Embrace ash pits.

6

For the iniquity of the daughter of my people Is greater than the sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown as in a moment, And no hands were turned toward her.

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.

Lamentations 4:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Lamentations 4:4 say?
Lamentations 4:4 in the NASB reads: “The tongue of the infant cleaves To the roof of its mouth because of thirst; The little ones ask for bread, But no one breaks it for them.”
Where is Lamentations 4:4 in the Bible?
Lamentations 4:4 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Lamentations, chapter 4, verse 4.
Who wrote Lamentations?
Lamentations is traditionally attributed to Jeremiah (traditional). It was written c. 586–575 BC.
What is the book of Lamentations about?
Lamentations is a series of five funeral poems over the fallen Jerusalem — raw grief, honest confession, and at the very center, an astonishing confession of hope: "his compassions fail not… they are new every morning."
What are the major themes of Lamentations?
Lamentations explores themes including Grief, Judgment, Mercy, Hope, Repentance. These themes shape the meaning and context of Lamentations 4:4.
What translation should I read Lamentations 4:4 in?
Lamentations 4:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Lamentations 4:4?
Lamentations 4:4 reads (NASB): “The tongue of the infant cleaves To the roof of its mouth because of thirst; The little ones ask for bread, But no one breaks it for them.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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