Lamentations 4:4 · KJV
“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.”
— Lamentations 4:4
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. {sea...: or, sea calves}
They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
Lamentations 4 — Context
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3Even 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. {sea...: or, sea calves}
4The 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.
5They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
6For 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. {punishment of the iniquity: or, iniquity}
Cross References
Psalms 22:15
My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
Lamentations 2:11-12
Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city. {swoon: or, faint}
Psalms 137:6
If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. {my chief...: Heb. the head of my joy}
Deuteronomy 32:24
{They shall be} burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust. {heat: Heb. coals}
Lamentations 1:11
All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile. {to...: or, to make the soul to come again}
Matthew 7:9-11
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?