Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, December 21st, 2025
the Fourth Week of Advent
the Fourth Week of Advent
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Read the Bible
Good News Translation
Lamentations 5:4
We must pay for the water we drink; we must buy the wood we need for fuel.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
We must pay for the water we drink;our wood comes at a price.
We must pay for the water we drink;our wood comes at a price.
Hebrew Names Version
We have drunken our water for money; Our wood is sold to us.
We have drunken our water for money; Our wood is sold to us.
King James Version
We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.
We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.
English Standard Version
We must pay for the water we drink; the wood we get must be bought.
We must pay for the water we drink; the wood we get must be bought.
New American Standard Bible
We have to pay for our drinking water, Our wood comes to us at a price.
We have to pay for our drinking water, Our wood comes to us at a price.
New Century Version
We have to buy the water we drink; we must pay for the firewood.
We have to buy the water we drink; we must pay for the firewood.
Amplified Bible
We have to pay for our drinking water; Our wood comes to us at a price.
We have to pay for our drinking water; Our wood comes to us at a price.
World English Bible
We have drunken our water for money; Our wood is sold to us.
We have drunken our water for money; Our wood is sold to us.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Wee haue drunke our water for money, and our wood is solde vnto vs.
Wee haue drunke our water for money, and our wood is solde vnto vs.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
We have to pay for our drinking water, Our wood comes to us at a price.
We have to pay for our drinking water, Our wood comes to us at a price.
Legacy Standard Bible
We drink our water by means of silver;Our wood comes to us at a price.
We drink our water by means of silver;Our wood comes to us at a price.
Berean Standard Bible
We must buy the water we drink; our wood comes at a price.
We must buy the water we drink; our wood comes at a price.
Contemporary English Version
The water we drink and the wood we burn cost far too much.
The water we drink and the wood we burn cost far too much.
Complete Jewish Bible
We have to pay to drink our own water; we have to buy our own wood.
We have to pay to drink our own water; we have to buy our own wood.
Darby Translation
Our water have we to drink for money, our wood cometh unto us for a price.
Our water have we to drink for money, our wood cometh unto us for a price.
Easy-to-Read Version
We have to buy the water that we drink. We have to pay for the wood that we use.
We have to buy the water that we drink. We have to pay for the wood that we use.
George Lamsa Translation
We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold to us.
We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold to us.
Lexham English Bible
We pay for water with money, our wood comes to us at a price.
We pay for water with money, our wood comes to us at a price.
Literal Translation
We have drunk our water for silver; our wood comes for a price.
We have drunk our water for silver; our wood comes for a price.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
We are fayne to drynke oure owne water for moneye, and oure owne wod must we bye with moneye.
We are fayne to drynke oure owne water for moneye, and oure owne wod must we bye with moneye.
American Standard Version
We have drunken our water for money; Our wood is sold unto us.
We have drunken our water for money; Our wood is sold unto us.
Bible in Basic English
We give money for a drink of water, we get our wood for a price.
We give money for a drink of water, we get our wood for a price.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
We have drunk our water for money; our wood cometh to us for price.
We have drunk our water for money; our wood cometh to us for price.
King James Version (1611)
We haue drunken our water for money, our wood is sold vnto vs.
We haue drunken our water for money, our wood is sold vnto vs.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
We are fayne to drinke our owne water for money, and our owne wood must we buy for money.
We are fayne to drinke our owne water for money, and our owne wood must we buy for money.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
We have drunk our water for money; our wood is sold to us for a burden on our neck:
We have drunk our water for money; our wood is sold to us for a burden on our neck:
English Revised Version
We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.
We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
We drunken oure watir for monei, we bouyten oure trees for siluer.
We drunken oure watir for monei, we bouyten oure trees for siluer.
Update Bible Version
We have drank our water for money; Our wood is sold to us.
We have drank our water for money; Our wood is sold to us.
Webster's Bible Translation
We have drank our water for money; our wood is sold to us.
We have drank our water for money; our wood is sold to us.
New English Translation
We must pay money for our own water; we must buy our own wood at a steep price.
We must pay money for our own water; we must buy our own wood at a steep price.
New King James Version
We pay for the water we drink, And our wood comes at a price.
We pay for the water we drink, And our wood comes at a price.
New Living Translation
We have to pay for water to drink, and even firewood is expensive.
We have to pay for water to drink, and even firewood is expensive.
New Life Bible
We have to pay for our drinking water, and we must buy our wood.
We have to pay for our drinking water, and we must buy our wood.
New Revised Standard
We must pay for the water we drink; the wood we get must be bought.
We must pay for the water we drink; the wood we get must be bought.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Our water - for silver, have we drunk, our wood - for a price, cometh in.
Our water - for silver, have we drunk, our wood - for a price, cometh in.
Douay-Rheims Bible
We have drunk our water for money: we have bought our wood.
We have drunk our water for money: we have bought our wood.
Revised Standard Version
We must pay for the water we drink, the wood we get must be bought.
We must pay for the water we drink, the wood we get must be bought.
Young's Literal Translation
Our water for money we have drunk, Our wood for a price doth come.
Our water for money we have drunk, Our wood for a price doth come.
Contextual Overview
1 Remember, O Lord , what has happened to us. Look at us, and see our disgrace. 2 Our property is in the hands of strangers; foreigners are living in our homes. 3 Our fathers have been killed by the enemy, and now our mothers are widows. 4 We must pay for the water we drink; we must buy the wood we need for fuel. 5 Driven hard like donkeys or camels, we are tired, but are allowed no rest. 6 To get food enough to stay alive, we went begging to Egypt and Assyria. 7 Our ancestors sinned, but now they are gone, and we are suffering for their sins. 8 Our rulers are no better than slaves, and no one can save us from their power. 9 Murderers roam through the countryside; we risk our lives when we look for food. 10 Hunger has made us burn with fever until our skin is as hot as an oven.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
have: Deuteronomy 28:48, Isaiah 3:1, Ezekiel 4:9-17
is sold: Heb. cometh for price
Reciprocal: Judges 5:11 - the noise
Cross-References
Genesis 1:28
blessed them, and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals.
blessed them, and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals.
Genesis 5:1
This is the list of the descendants of Adam. (When God created human beings, he made them like himself.
This is the list of the descendants of Adam. (When God created human beings, he made them like himself.
Genesis 5:3
When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son who was like him, and he named him Seth.
When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son who was like him, and he named him Seth.
Genesis 5:7
and then lived another 807 years. He had other children
and then lived another 807 years. He had other children
Genesis 5:10
and then lived another 815 years. He had other children
and then lived another 815 years. He had other children
Genesis 5:13
and then lived another 840 years. He had other children
and then lived another 840 years. He had other children
Genesis 5:19
and then lived another 800 years. He had other children
and then lived another 800 years. He had other children
Genesis 5:22
After that, Enoch lived in fellowship with God for 300 years and had other children.
After that, Enoch lived in fellowship with God for 300 years and had other children.
Genesis 5:26
and then lived another 782 years. He had other children
and then lived another 782 years. He had other children
Genesis 5:30
Lamech lived another 595 years. He had other children
Lamech lived another 595 years. He had other children
Gill's Notes on the Bible
We have drunken our water for money,.... They who in their own land, which was a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths, had wells of water of their own, and water freely and in abundance, now were obliged to pay for it, for drink, and other uses:
our wood is sold unto us; or, "comes to us by a price" r; and a dear one; in their own land they could have wood out of the forest, for cutting down and bringing home; but now they were forced to give a large price for it.
r במחיר יבאו "in pretio venerunt", Pagninus, Montanus; "caro nobis pretio veniunt", Michaelis.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
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.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Lamentations 5:4. 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.
