Lamentations — Chapter 5

1Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us. Look and see our disgrace!

2Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.

3We have become fatherless orphans; our mothers are widows.

4We must buy the water we drink; our wood comes at a price.

5We are closely pursued; we are weary and find no rest.

6We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.

7Our fathers sinned and are no more, but we bear their punishment.

8Slaves rule over us; there is no one to deliver us from their hands.

9We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the wilderness.

10Our skin is as hot as an oven with fever from our hunger.

11Women have been ravished in Zion, virgins in the cities of Judah.

12Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders receive no respect.

13Young men toil at millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.

14The elders have left the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.

15Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.

16The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!

17Because of this, our hearts are faint; because of these, our eyes grow dim—

18because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, patrolled by foxes.

19You, O LORD, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation.

20Why have You forgotten us forever? Why have You forsaken us for so long?

21Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return; renew our days as of old,

22unless You have utterly rejected us and remain angry with us beyond measure.

1Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.

2Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.

3We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.

4We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.

5Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.

6We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

7Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.

8Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand.

9We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.

10Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.

11They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.

12Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured.

13They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood.

14The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick.

15The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.

16The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!

17For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.

18Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.

19Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.

20Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?

21Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

22But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.

1Remember, O Jehovah, what is come upon us: Behold, and see our reproach.

2Our inheritance is turned unto strangers, Our houses unto aliens.

3We are orphans and fatherless; Our mothers are as widows.

4We have drunken our water for money; Our wood is sold unto us.

5Our pursuers are upon our necks: We are weary, and have no rest.

6We have given the hand to the Egyptians, And to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

7Our fathers sinned, and are not; And we have borne their iniquities.

8Servants rule over us: There is none to deliver us out of their hand.

9We get our bread at the peril of our lives, Because of the sword of the wilderness.

10Our skin is black like an oven, Because of the burning heat of famine.

11They ravished the women in Zion, The virgins in the cities of Judah.

12Princes were hanged up by their hand: The faces of elders were not honored.

13The young men bare the mill; And the children stumbled under the wood.

14The elders have ceased from the gate, The young men from their music.

15The joy of our heart is ceased; Our dance is turned into mourning.

16The crown is fallen from our head: Woe unto us! for we have sinned.

17For this our heart is faint; For these things our eyes are dim;

18For the mountain of Zion, which is desolate: The foxes walk upon it.

19Thou, O Jehovah, abidest for ever; Thy throne is from generation to generation.

20Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, [And] forsake us so long time?

21Turn thou us unto thee, O Jehovah, and we shall be turned; Renew our days as of old.

22But thou hast utterly rejected us; Thou art very wroth against us.

1O Lord, reflect on what has happened to us; consider and look at our disgrace.

2Our inheritance is turned over to strangers; foreigners now occupy our homes.

3We have become fatherless orphans; our mothers have become widows.

4We must pay money for our own water; we must buy our own wood at a steep price.

5We are pursued—they are breathing down our necks; we are weary and have no rest.

6We have submitted to Egypt and Assyria in order to buy food to eat.

7Our forefathers sinned and are dead, but we suffer their punishment.

8Slaves rule over us; there is no one to rescue us from their power.

9At the risk of our lives we get our food because robbers lurk in the wilderness.

10Our skin is as hot as an oven due to a fever from hunger.

11They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.

12Princes were hung by their hands; elders were mistreated.

13The young men perform menial labor; boys stagger from their labor.

14The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped playing their music.

15Our hearts no longer have any joy; our dancing is turned to mourning.

16The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!

17Because of this, our hearts are sick; because of these things, we can hardly see through our tears.

18For wild animals are prowling over Mount Zion, which lies desolate.

19But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.

20Why do you keep on forgetting us? Why do you forsake us so long?

21Bring us back to yourself, O Lord, so that we may return to you; renew our life as in days before,

22unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.

1Remember, Yahweh, what has come on us. Look, and see our reproach.

2Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to aliens.

3We are orphans and fatherless. Our mothers are as widows.

4We have drunken our water for money. Our wood is sold to us.

5Our pursuers are on our necks. We are weary, and have no rest.

6We have given our hands to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

7Our fathers sinned, and are no more. We have borne their iniquities.

8Servants rule over us. There is no one to deliver us out of their hand.

9We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword of the wilderness.

10Our skin is black like an oven, because of the burning heat of famine.

11They ravished the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah.

12Princes were hanged up by their hands. The faces of elders were not honored.

13The young men carry millstones. The children stumbled under loads of wood.

14The elders have ceased from the gate, and the young men from their music.

15The joy of our heart has ceased. Our dance is turned into mourning.

16The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!

17For this our heart is faint. For these things our eyes are dim.

18For the mountain of Zion, which is desolate. The foxes walk on it.

19You, Yahweh, remain forever. Your throne is from generation to generation.

20Why do you forget us forever, and forsake us for so long a time?

21Turn us to yourself, Yahweh, and we will be turned. Renew our days as of old.

22But you have utterly rejected us. You are very angry against us.