Chapter commentary
Lamentations Chapter 4
1
La 4:1-22.
简体中文
English original
La 4:1-22.
THE SAD CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM, THE HOPE OF RESTORATION, AND THE RETRIBUTION AWAITING IDUMEA FOR JOINING BABYLON AGAINST JUDEA.
Aleph.
1. gold--the splendid adornment of the temple [CALVIN]
(La 1:10; 1Ki 6:22; Jer 52:19);
or, the principal men of Judea [GROTIUS]
(La 4:2).
stones of . . . sanctuary--the gems on the breastplate of the high priest; or, metaphorically, the priests and Levites.
2
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简体中文
Beth（bet）。
2. 可比……精金——
(伯 28:16, 19)。
瓦瓶——
(赛 30:14； 耶 19:11)。
English original
Beth.
2. comparable to . . . gold--
(Job 28:16, 19).
earthen pitchers--
(Isa 30:14; Jer 19:11).
3
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简体中文
Gimel（gimel）。
3. 野狗……哺乳——鲸鱼及其他鲸类怪兽皆为哺乳动物，它们尚且乳养幼崽；但在围城中的犹太妇人，因苦情已到了绝望的地步，竟吃自己的儿女
(哀 4:10； 哀 2:20)。
也有人译作"豺狼"。
鸵鸟——参
伯 39:14； 伯 39:16
论鸵鸟离弃幼雏之注解。
English original
Gimel.
3. sea monsters . . . breast--Whales and other cetaceous monsters are mammalian. Even they suckle their young; but the Jewish women in the siege, so desperate was their misery, ate theirs
(La 4:10; La 2:20).
Others translate, "jackals."
ostriches--see on
Job 39:14;
Job 39:16,
on their forsaking their young.
4
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简体中文
Daleth（dalet）。
4. 渴——母亲因饥荒没有奶可哺。
English original
Daleth.
4. thirst--The mothers have no milk to give through the famine.
5
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简体中文
He（he）。
5. 极奢——以美味养育。
变为荒凉——或作"灭亡"。
卧在粪堆——从前在朱红褥子上被抚养的贵胄，如今只好躺卧在粪堆之上。
抱——从前稍有尘垢即敏而却避的人，如今却欣然紧抱污秽的堆子，作为惟一的栖身之处。参"抱磐石"
(伯 24:8)。
English original
He.
5. delicately--on dainties.
are desolate--or, "perish."
in scarlet embrace dunghills--Instead of the scarlet couches on which the grandees were nursed, they must lie on dunghills.
embrace--They who once shrank sensitively from any soil, gladly cling close to heaps of filth as their only resting-place. Compare "embrace the rock"
(Job 24:8).
6
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简体中文
Vau（waw）。
6. 大于……所多玛——
(太 11:23)。
神未曾差遣先知到所多玛，正如他差遣到犹大一般；故此后者的刑罚比前者更重。
倾覆……时刻之间——而犹太人却要承受围城漫长而多方的艰辛。
没有手按住她——所多玛倾覆之前，并无敌军（如迦勒底人之于耶路撒冷那样）持续向她施压。耶利米以此表明耶路撒冷的刑罚比所多玛更重。
English original
Vau.
6. greater than . . . Sodom--
(Mt 11:23).
No prophets had been sent to Sodom, as there had been to Judea; therefore the punishment of the latter was heavier than that of the former.
overthrown . . . in a moment--whereas the Jews had to endure the protracted and manifold hardships of a siege.
no hands stayed on her--No hostile force, as the Chaldeans in the case of Jerusalem, continually pressed on her before her overthrow. Jeremiah thus shows the greater severity of Jerusalem's punishment than that of Sodom.
7
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简体中文
Zain（zayin）。
7. 拿细耳人——直译为"分别出来的人"
(民 6:2)。
他们一度备受尊崇，如今却被降为卑贱。从前神的赐福使他们因禁戒浓酒而身体并不因此失却俊美红润。比较但以理等人类似的例子
(但 1:8-15)。
又如大卫
(撒上 16:12；17:42)。
为弥赛亚的预表
(歌 5:10)。
红宝石——格塞尼斯（Gesenius）译作"珊瑚"，取自一希伯来文字根"分为枝杈"，因珊瑚呈分枝之状。
琢磨——他们如同精工切割、琢磨过的蓝宝石。"蓝宝石"或可代表健康人蓝色的静脉。
English original
Zain.
7. Nazarites--literally, "separated ones"
(Nu 6:2).
They were held once in the highest estimation, but now they are degraded. God's blessing formerly caused their body not to be the less fair and ruddy for their abstinence from strong drink. Compare the similar case of Daniel, &c.
(Da 1:8-15).
Also David
(1Sa 16:12; 17:42).
Type of Messiah
(So 5:10).
rubies--GESENIUS translates, "corals," from a Hebrew root, "to divide into branches," from the branching form of corals.
polishing--They were like exquisitely cut and polished sapphires. The "sapphires" may represent the blue veins of a healthy person.
8
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简体中文
Cheth（het）。
8. 比……煤更黑——或作"比黑色本身更黑"
(珥 2:6； 鸿 2:10)。
像木杖——如枯干的木杖一般枯槁。
English original
Cheth.
8. blacker than . . . coal--or, "than blackness" itself
(Joe 2:6; Na 2:10).
like a stick--as withered as a dry stick.
9
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简体中文
Teth（tet）。
9. 死于刀下的速死，胜过因饥荒而慢慢死去。
消瘦——直译为"流出"，指血的流出。此一说法以及"被刺透"皆取自死于"刀剑"之言。
缺乏*……果子*——原文中需补上斜体字（即"缺乏"一词）
(创 18:28； 诗 109:24)。
English original
Teth.
9. The speedy death by the sword is better than the lingering death by famine.
pine away--literally, "flow out"; referring to the flow of blood. This expression, and "stricken through," are drawn from death by "the sword."
want of . . . fruits--The words in italics have to be supplied in the original
(Ge 18:28; Ps 109:24).
10
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简体中文
Jod（yod）。
10.
(哀 2:20； 申 28:56, 57)。
慈怜——在别的时候本性原是满有怜悯的
(赛 49:15)。
约瑟夫（Josephus）记载了提多（Titus）围城时这件反常之事。
煮——煮熟。
English original
Jod.
10.
(La 2:20; De 28:56, 57).
pitiful--naturally at other times compassionate
(Isa 49:15).
JOSEPHUS describes the unnatural act as it took place in the siege under Titus.
sodden--boiled.
11
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简体中文
Caph（kaf）。
11. 火……烧灭……根基——
(申 32:22； 耶 21:14)。
这是极为罕见的事。火通常只烧毁表面；但这火却延及根基，断绝了一切复兴的指望。
English original
Caph.
11. fire . . . devoured . . . foundations--
(De 32:22; Jer 21:14).
A most rare event. Fire usually consumes only the surface; but this reached even to the foundation, cutting off all hope of restoration.
12
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简体中文
Lamed（lamed）。
12. 耶路撒冷防御坚固，众人都以为它坚不可摧。因此倾覆它的，必是神的手，绝非人力所能为。
English original
Lamed.
12. Jerusalem was so fortified that all thought it impregnable. It therefore could only have been the hand of God, not the force of man, which overthrew it.
13
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简体中文
Mem（mem）。
13. 先知——指假先知
(耶 23:11, 21)。
意思当补足为："因……罪，这些灾祸就临到她。"
流了义人的血——
(太 23:31, 37)。
这在杀害弥赛亚及犹太人随之而被分散的事上得了完全的应验
(雅 5:6)。
English original
Mem.
13. prophets--the false prophets
(Jer 23:11, 21).
Supply the sense thus: "For the sins . . . these calamities have befallen her."
shed the blood of the just--
(Mt 23:31, 37).
This received its full fulfilment in the slaying of Messiah and the Jews' consequent dispersion
(Jas 5:6).
14
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简体中文
Nun（nun）。
14. 瞎眼——指心神迷乱。
染……血——既指他们彼此相害所流的血（例如
耶 2:34)，
也指他们被仇敌所流的血［格拉修（Glassius）］。
不摸……衣裳——因被血玷污而不敢摸
(民 19:16)。
English original
Nun.
14. blind--with mental aberration.
polluted . . . with blood--both with blood of one another mutually shed (for example,
Jer 2:34),
and with their blood shed by the enemy [GLASSIUS].
not touch . . . garments--as being defiled with blood
(Nu 19:16).
15
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简体中文
Samech（samek）。
15. 人……他们——"人"，即"众人"
(哀 4:14)。
连被犹太人视为不洁的外邦人（犹太人受命要极其严谨地避免一切玷污），也向后者喊说"离开"，以为他们不洁：城中被血玷污的情形之普遍，由此可见一斑。
游荡——正如假先知及其从者曾因迷惑与拜偶像之罪在城中"瞎眼游荡"
(哀 4:14)，
如今他们也必在外邦人中因灾祸而"瞎眼游荡"，惊惶失措。
他们说——即外邦人说：在列国中有人说："犹太人必不再在自己的地上寄居"［格罗提乌（Grotius）］；或作：他们无论飘流到何处，"都不得久留"［路易（Ludovicus de Dieu）］
(申 28:65)。
English original
Samech.
15. They . . . them--"They," that is, "men"
(La 4:14).
Even the very Gentiles, regarded as unclean by the Jews, who were ordered most religiously to avoid all defilements, cried unto the latter, "depart," as being unclean: so universal was the defilement of the city by blood.
wandered--As the false prophets and their followers had "wandered" blind with infatuated and idolatrous crime in the city
(La 4:14),
so they must now "wander" among the heathen in blind consternation with calamity.
they said--that is, the Gentiles said: it was said among the heathen, "The Jews shall no more sojourn in their own land" [GROTIUS]; or, wheresoever they go in their wandering exile, "they shall not stay long" [LUDOVICUS DE DIEU],
(De 28:65).
16
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简体中文
Pe（pe）。
16. Ain 与 Pe 在此处被颠倒
(哀 4:16, 17)，
正如
哀 2:16, 17；3:46-51
一样。
怒气——直译为"面"；面色借其表情显示怒气
(诗 34:16)。
格塞尼斯（Gesenius）译作"耶和华的面"，指耶和华的同在，即耶和华自己
(出 33:14； 撒下 17:11)。
分散——使犹太人四散。
他们不看重……祭司——这是外邦人的话。"犹太人已无归回的盼望了，因为他们甚至不看重良善的祭司"
(代下 24:19-22)
［格罗提乌（Grotius）］。莫勒（Maurer）解作"他们（得胜的仇敌）不看重（犹太的）祭司恳求怜悯的呼声"
(哀 5:12)。
哀 4:17
"至于我们"的明显对偶，以及
哀 4:15
末段论及"外邦人"的话——而
哀 4:16
正是其延续——都有利于前一种解释。
English original
Pe.
16. Ain and Pe are here transposed
(La 4:16, 17),
as in
La 2:16, 17; 3:46-51.
anger--literally, "face"; it is the countenance which, by its expression, manifests anger
(Ps 34:16).
GESENIUS translates, "the person of Jehovah"; Jehovah present; Jehovah Himself
(Ex 33:14; 2Sa 17:11).
divided--dispersed the Jews.
they respected not . . . priests--This is the language of the Gentiles. "The Jews have no hope of a return: for they respected not even good priests"
(2Ch 24:19-22)
[GROTIUS]. MAURER explains it, "They (the victorious foe) regard not the (Jewish) priests when imploring their pity"
(La 5:12).
The evident antithesis to "As for us"
(La 4:17)
and the language of "the heathen" at the close of
La 4:15,
of which
La 4:16
is the continuation, favor the former view.
17
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简体中文
Ain（ayin）。
17. 至于我们——此译法与外邦人的话
(哀 4:15, 16)
形成最佳的对偶。加尔文（Calvin）译作"当我们尚作为一个国家存立之时，我们的眼睛失明"云云。
仰望一个不能救我们的国——指埃及
(王下 24:7； 赛 30:7； 耶 37:5-11)。
English original
Ain.
17. As for us--This translation forms the best antithesis to the language of the heathen
(La 4:15, 16). CALVIN translates, "While as yet we stood as a state, our eyes failed," &c.
watched for a nation that could not save us--Egypt
(2Ki 24:7; Isa 30:7; Jer 37:5-11).
18
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简体中文
Tzaddi（tsade）。
18. 他们——指迦勒底人。
不能走——指不能安然行走。
English original
Tzaddi.
18. They--the Chaldeans.
cannot go--without danger.
19
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简体中文
Koph（qoph）。
19. 这是城被攻取之前最后的一段时日。当时已无逃生之处；企图逃出饥荒之城的百姓，"在山上、在旷野"都被仇敌截住。
比……鹰更快——指迦勒底的骑兵
(耶 4:13)。
追赶——直译为"发热"；引申为"急追"
(创 31:36)。
他们如此追赶，并追上了西底家
(耶 52:8, 9)。
English original
Koph.
19. The last times just before the taking of the city. There was no place of escape; the foe intercepted those wishing to escape from the famine-stricken city, "on the mountains and in the wilderness."
swifter . . . than . . . eagles--the Chaldean cavalry
(Jer 4:13).
pursued--literally, "to be hot"; then, "to pursue hotly"
(Ge 31:36).
Thus they pursued and overtook Zedekiah
(Jer 52:8, 9).
20
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简体中文
Resh（resh）。
20. 气息……耶和华的受膏者——指我们的王，我们的生命与他相连。原本所指似乎为约西亚
(代下 35:25)，
他在与法老尼哥的战役中阵亡；但此处的话语应用于西底家——他虽败坏，仍是大卫的直系代表，也是"受膏者"弥赛亚的预表。若就他个人而论，这些话过于恩待他，并不相称。
在外邦中存留——我们曾指望在他治下安然居住，即便周围都是外邦列国也无惧［格罗提乌（Grotius）］。
English original
Resh.
20. breath . . . anointed of . . . Lord--our king, with whose life ours was bound up. The original reference seems to have been to Josiah
(2Ch 35:25),
killed in battle with Pharaoh-necho; but the language is here applied to Zedekiah, who, though worthless, was still lineal representative of David, and type of Messiah, the "Anointed." Viewed personally the language is too favorable to apply to him.
live among the heathen--Under him we hoped to live securely, even in spite of the surrounding heathen nations [GROTIUS].
21
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简体中文
Schin（sin）。
21. 欢乐——为我们的灾祸而欢乐
(诗 137:7)。
这是一则预言，预言以东必因耶路撒冷的倾覆而幸灾乐祸。同时又暗示，以东的欢乐必不长久。这是反讽地吩咐她：趁还可以欢乐的时候，尽情欢乐吧
(传 11:9)。
杯——关于神怒气使人混乱的杯之象征，见
耶 13:12；25:15, 16, 21；
论以东，见
耶 49:7-22。
English original
Schin.
21. Rejoice--at our calamities
(Ps 137:7).
This is a prophecy that Edom should exult over the fall of Jerusalem. At the same time it is implied, Edom's joy shall be short-lived. Ironically she is told, Rejoice while thou mayest
(Ec 11:9).
cup--for this image of the confounding effects of God's wrath, see
Jer 13:12; 25:15, 16, 21;
as to Edom,
Jer 49:7-22.
22
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简体中文
Tau（taw）。
22.
(赛 40:2)。
你所受的刑罚已经够了：你受罚的终结已经临近。
不再掳掠你……被掳——即不再被迦勒底人掳去。后来罗马人将他们掳去。故此这预言的完全应验必指犹太人最终的复兴。
显露——神借着他对你刑罚的严厉，使人看见你的罪何等深重
(耶 49:10)。
神赦免罪时，便"遮盖"罪
(诗 32:1, 5)。
他刑罚罪时，便"显露"或"显明"罪
(伯 20:27)。
耶 49:10
表明边注"掳去"（此译法如
鸿 2:7；
比较"显露"，边注）是错误的。
English original
Tau.
22.
(Isa 40:2).
Thou hast been punished enough: the end of thy punishment is at hand.
no more carry thee . . . into captivity--that is, by the Chaldeans. The Romans carried them away subsequently. The full accomplishment of this prophecy must therefore refer to the Jews' final restoration.
discover--By the severity of His punishments on thee, God shall let men see how great was thy sin
(Jer 49:10).
God "covers" sin when He forgives it
(Ps 32:1, 5).
He "discovers," or "reveals," it, when He punishes it
(Job 20:27).
Jer 49:10
shows that Margin is wrong, "carry captive" (this rendering is as in
Na 2:7;
compare "discovered," Margin).
哀 4:1-22。
耶路撒冷之悲惨被掳，复兴之盼望，以及以东因与巴比伦联合攻击犹大而将受的报应。
Aleph（alef）。
1. 黄金——指圣殿华美的装饰［加尔文（Calvin）］
(哀 1:10； 王上 6:22； 耶 52:19)；
或指犹大的首要人物［格罗提乌（Grotius）］
(哀 4:2)。
圣所的……宝石——大祭司胸牌上的宝石；或按隐喻而言，指祭司与利未人。