第四首哀歌—为受惩罚之百姓哀悼的诗歌
他们被围困时受缺食的困苦：以色列人在被围困时受到缺食的困苦（1-10）。发光的“纯金”与磨亮的“蓝宝石”，因着缺食，变成“黑炭”（1-5，7-9）。慈心的妇人煮自己的儿女作食物（10）。神的子民受困苦，因他们的罪孽，比所多玛的罪还大（6）。
被耶和华所发的烈怒烧毁：以色列人被耶和华所发的烈怒烧毁（11-20）。这样的烈怒，地上的君王，和世上的居民都不信（12）。神的子民因她先知的罪恶，和祭司的罪孽被烧毁（13-16）。百姓盼望一国的帮助，乃是枉然的（17-20）。
他们将来的盼望：二十一、二十二节说到他们将来的盼望。他们盼望他们罪孽的惩罚受足了，耶和华不使他们再被放逐（22上）。他们也盼望耶和华惩罚以东的罪孽（21，22下）。耶利米完全以人性的方式来写这首哀歌。他的同情、他的爱、他的忧伤和他的哀哭，完全是人性的。耶利米在这首哀歌里所说的一切，都是他人性的流出。照着他属人的感觉，他宣告神要惩罚以东的罪孽，显露他们的罪恶。
第五首哀歌—为圣民祷告的哀歌，作第四首哀歌的结语
求耶和华记念他们的遭遇：这祷告开始于耶利米求耶和华记念他们的遭遇，观看他们所受的凌辱（1）。耶利米继续祷告，述说他们的惨况（2-6，8-18）。
承认他们列祖的罪，以及他们的罪：在七节和十六节下半，耶利米承认他们列祖的罪，以及他们的罪。
结束于代求：这祷告结束于代求（19-22）。耶利米在他的代求里，赞美耶和华（19），求问祂（20，22），并要求祂（21）。
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The Fourth and Fifth Lamentation — Lam. 5:18-20
The Fourth Lamentation – A Lamentation over the Punished People
Afflicted with the Lack of Food in Their Siege: The people of Israel were afflicted with a lack of food in their siege (Lam. 4:1-10). The shining “pure gold” and the glittering “sapphire” became “black coal” because of the lack of food (Lam. 4:1-5, 7-9). The compassionate women boiled and ate their own children (Lam. 4:10). God’s people were afflicted because their iniquity was greater than the sin of Sodom (Lam. 4:6).
Consumed by the Burning Anger of Jehovah’s Wrath: The children of Israel were consumed by the burning anger of Jehovah’s wrath (Lam. 4:11-20). Such an anger was not believable to the kings of the earth nor to the inhabitants of the world (Lam. 4:12). God’s people were consumed because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests (Lam. 4:13-16). The people looked in vain for a nation’s help (Lam. 4:17-20).
Their Hope in the Future: Verses 21 and 22 speak of their hope in the future. They hoped that the punishment for their iniquity had been accomplished and that Jehovah would no longer take them into exile (v. 22a). They hoped also that Jehovah would punish the iniquity of Edom (Lam.. 21, 22b). Jeremiah wrote this lamentation altogether in a human way. His sympathy, his love, his sorrow, and his weeping were altogether human. Everything uttered by Jeremiah in this lamentation was the issue of his being human. According to his human feeling, he declared that God would punish the iniquity of Edom and uncover their sins.
The Fifth Lamentation – A Lamentation as a Prayer for the Holy People as the Conclusion of the Fourth Lamentation
Asking Jehovah to Remember Their Sufferings: This prayer begins with Jeremiah’s asking Jehovah to remember their sufferings and to look and see their reproach (v. 1). This prayer continues with Jeremiah’s relating their miserable condition (Lam. 4:2-6, 8-18).
Confessing Their Fathers’ Sin and Their Sin: In verses 7 and 16b Jeremiah confessed their fathers’ sin and their sin.
Concluding with a Petition: This prayer concludes with a petition (Lam. 4:19-22). In his petition, Jeremiah praises Jehovah (v. 19), questions Him (Lam. 4:20, 22), and makes a request of Him (Lam. 4:21).