Lamentations 5:4

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold to us.

American King James Version (AKJV)

We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold to us.

American Standard Version (ASV)

We have drunken our water for money; Our wood is sold unto us.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

We give money for a drink of water, we get our wood for a price.

Webster's Revision

We have drank our water for money; our wood is sold to us.

World English Bible

We have drunken our water for money; Our wood is sold to us.

English Revised Version (ERV)

We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.

Clarke's Lamentations 5:4 Bible Commentary

We have drunken our water for money - I suppose the meaning of this is, that every thing was taxed by the Chaldeans, and that they kept the management in their own hands, so that wood and water were both sold, the people not being permitted to help themselves. They were now so lowly reduced by servitude, that they were obliged to pay dearly for those things which formerly were common and of no price. A poor Hindoo in the country never buys fire-wood, but when he comes to the city he is obliged to purchase his fuel, and considers it as a matter of great hardship.

Barnes's Lamentations 5:4 Bible Commentary

Better as in the margin cometh to us for price. The rendering of the the King James Version spoils the carefully studied rhythm of the original. The bitterness of the complaint lies in this, that it was their own property which they had to buy.

Wesley's Lamentations 5:4 Bible Commentary

5:4 Sold - Whereas at other times there was abundance of wood and water throughout Judea.