4:1 黄金何其失光；纯金何其变色。圣所的石头倒在各市口上。
How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
4:2 锡安宝贵的众子好比精金，现在何竟算为窑匠手所作的瓦瓶。
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
4:3 野狗尚且把奶乳哺其子，我民的妇人倒成为残忍，好像旷野的鸵鸟一般。
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.
4:4 吃奶孩子的舌头因乾渴贴住上膛。孩童求饼，无人擘给他们。
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.
4:5 素来吃美好食物的，现今在街上变为孤寒。素来卧朱红褥子的，现今躺卧粪堆。
They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
4:6 都因我众民的罪孽比所多玛的罪还大。所多玛虽然无人加手于她，还是转眼之间被倾覆。
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.
4:7 锡安的贵胄素来比雪纯净，比奶更白。他们的身体比红宝玉（或作珊瑚）更红，像光润的蓝宝石一样。
Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
4:8 现在他们的面貌比煤炭更黑，以致在街上无人认识。他们的皮肤紧贴骨头，枯乾如同槁木。
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.
4:9 饿死的不如被刀杀的，因为这是缺了田间的土产，就身体衰弱，渐渐消灭。
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.
4:10 慈悲的妇人，当我众民被毁灭的时候，亲手煮自己的儿女作为食物。
The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
4:11 耶和华发怒成就他所定的，倒出他的烈怒。在锡安使火着起，烧毁锡安的根基。
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.
4:12 地上的君王和世上的居民都不信敌人和仇敌能进耶路撒冷的城门。
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.
4:13 这都因她先知的罪恶和祭司的罪孽。他们在城中流了义人的血。
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,
4:14 他们在街上如瞎子乱走，又被血玷污，以致人不能摸他们的衣服。
They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.
4:15 人向他们喊着说，不洁净的，躲开，躲开。不要挨近我。他们逃走飘流的时候，列国中有人说，他们不可仍在这里寄居。
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.
4:16 耶和华发怒，将他们分散，不再眷顾他们。人不重看祭司，也不厚待长老。
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.
4:17 我们仰望人来帮助，以致眼目失明，还是枉然。我们所盼望的，竟盼望一个不能救人的国。
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.
4:18 仇敌追赶我们的脚步像打猎的，以致我们不敢在自己的街上行走。我们的结局临近。我们的日子满足。我们的结局来到了。
They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
4:19 追赶我们的比空中的鹰更快。他们在山上追逼我们，在旷野埋伏，等候我们。
Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
4:20 耶和华的受膏者好比我们鼻中的气，在他们的坑中被捉住。我们曾论到他说，我们必在他荫下，在列国中存活。
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.
4:21 住乌斯地的以东民哪，只管欢喜快乐。苦杯也必传到你那里。你必喝醉，以致露体。
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.
4:22 锡安的民哪，你罪孽的刑罚受足了，耶和华必不使你再被掳去。以东的民哪，他必追讨你的罪孽，显露你的罪恶。
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.
耶利米哀歌4参考
发达国家也会有经济衰退，人应该从中学到甚么功课？
4章 这一章以耶路撒冷在被攻打前后的情况作对照，写出因为人民的罪，令繁华的景象和声音远去。这一章告诫我们不要认为美好的生活是不变的，也不要因繁荣而高兴或感到光荣，因为这会导致灵命衰败。
短期的困难易忍受，若困难总不解除可就……
4:1-10 一个城遭围困时，被困在城中的人民无法到城外去寻找食物或水，因为敌人就在城外扎营。待城中的食物吃尽了，人民只能眼睁睁地看著敌人收割地里的庄稼，大吃大喝。围困是一种耐力的考验，看看哪一方能支持得更久。耶路撒冷被围困了两年，生活困乏到人民甚至吃自己的儿女，街上布满腐臭的尸体，所有的希望都绝了。
许多经卷中都提所多玛，它要告诉我甚么？
4:6 所多玛城因为它的邪恶，被从天而降的硫磺烧毁（参创18:20-19:29）。它变成神最终审判的象徵。然而耶路撒冷的罪比所多玛城的罪更大！
上梁不正下梁歪，作领袖的责任重大──
4:13-15 亵渎的或污秽的人都不适合进圣殿在神面前敬拜，祭司和先知应该十分小心保持典礼的纯洁，才能继续在神面前履行职责。但是许多祭司和先知却做了邪恶和不敬虔的事。他们身居国家的领导地位，却成为国民的坏榜样，以致国家和首都耶路撒冷都灭亡了。
“关键时刻他丢下我跑了！”──此时发现是不是有些晚了？
4:17 犹大请求埃及施助攻打巴比伦，埃及却给犹大一个虚假的希望。他们起初是出兵来帮忙，后来却撤了兵（参耶37:5-7）。耶利米警告犹大不要和埃及联盟，告诉领导者要专一仰赖神，但犹大的领导者却充耳不听。
“这个领导人还有两下子，跟著他不会错”，──靠人有保证吗？
4:20 西底家王虽被叫做“耶和华的受膏者”，但却没甚么灵性上的深度和领导的才能。他不但没听神的先知耶利米的话，反而听信假先知的谎言，更糟的是人民选择跟从和信赖他们的国王（参代下36:11-23）。他们选择伪信心和自满，想有安全感超过去遵从神藉著耶利米传达的旨意。最后，他们的信心对象──西底家国王却被俘掳了。
“太好了，这下他可倒霉了！”──不要幸灾乐祸了，还是想想自己吧……
4:21-22 以东是犹大的主要敌人，虽然他们有共同的祖先以撒（参创25:19-26；36:1）。以东过去曾主动帮助巴比伦攻打耶路撒冷，尼布甲尼撒也把犹大国的边远地方给他们作酬报。耶利米说以东会因它背叛兄弟而受审（参耶49:7-22；结25:12-14；摩9:12；俄1:21）。