Contradiction with Isaiah 3:10
While Lamentations 4:13 speaks of punishment due to the sins of prophets and priests, Isaiah 3:10 assures blessings and well-being to the righteous, suggesting a differing perspective on the outcome of faithfulness versus sin.
Isaiah 3:10: Say ye to the righteous, that [it shall be] well [with him]: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
Contradiction with Ezekiel 18:20
Lamentations 4:13 attributes the calamity of a people to the sins of a group, whereas Ezekiel 18:20 highlights individual responsibility, challenging the notion of collective punishment.
Ezekiel 18:20: The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Contradiction with Job 1:1-12
Lamentations 4:13 connects suffering to sin and leadership failure, but Job's righteousness amidst immense suffering contrasts this link by showing that suffering can occur without direct wrongdoing.
Job 1:1-12: There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name [was] Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
Contradiction with Proverbs 11:21
Lamentations 4:13 suggests a communal downfall due to collective sins, but Proverbs 11:21 stresses individual justice and deliverance for the righteous, which contrasts with communal attribution.
Proverbs 11:21: [Though] hand [join] in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
Contradiction with John 9:1-3
Lamentations 4:13 speaks of suffering due to sin, yet John 9:1-3 refutes this by showing a specific case where suffering (blindness) is not because of personal or ancestral sin, challenging the assumed causal link.
John 9:1-3: And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was blind from [his] birth.
Paradox #1
Lamentations 4:13’s message about the consequences of sin and leadership failures may seem inconsistent with the idea of a just world where innocent people do not suffer for the mistakes of others. Some might see a conflict with the notion of personal responsibility or divine justice.
Paradox #2
Lamentations 4:13 talks about the failings of prophets and priests that led to suffering. The contradiction might arise when religious leaders, who are supposed to guide and protect, instead make mistakes that harm their people. This inconsistency between their role and their actions could cause confusion or conflict for followers.