Lamentations 5
1 Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us. Look and see our disgrace!
Khumbula, Nkosi, ukuthi kwenzakaleni kithi; khangela, ubone ihlazo lethu.
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.
Ilifa lethu seliphendulelwe kwabezizwe, izindlu zethu kwabemzini.
3 We have become fatherless orphans; our mothers are widows.
Siyizintandane, kungelababa; omama banjengabafelokazi.
4 We must buy the water we drink; our wood comes at a price.
Amanzi ethu siwanathile ngemali; inkuni zethu ziza ngentengo.
5 We are closely pursued; we are weary and find no rest.
Sizingelwa ezintanyeni zethu, sidiniwe, kasilakuphumula.
6 We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.
Sinike isandla sethu kwabeGibhithe, labeAsiriya, ukuze sisuthiswe ngesinkwa.
7 Our fathers sinned and are no more, but we bear their punishment.
Obaba bona, kabasekho, njalo thina sithwele iziphambeko zabo.
8 Slaves rule over us; there is no one to deliver us from their hands.
Izigqili ziyasibusa, kakho ongasihluthuna esandleni sazo.
9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the wilderness.
Sizuza isinkwa sethu ngengozi yempilo yethu, ngenxa yenkemba yenkangala.
10 Our skin is as hot as an oven with fever from our hunger.
Ijwabu lethu limnyama njengeziko ngenxa yokutshisa okukhulu kwendlala.
11 Women have been ravished in Zion, virgins in the cities of Judah.
Badlova abesifazana eZiyoni, izintombi ezimsulwa emizini yakoJuda.
12 Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders receive no respect.
Iziphathamandla zaphanyekwa ngesandla sazo; ubuso babadala kabuhlonitshwanga.
13 Young men toil at millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.
Amajaha athwala amatshe okuchola, labafana bakhubeka ngaphansi kwenkuni.
14 The elders have left the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.
Abadala baphelile esangweni, amajaha ekuhlabeleleni.
15 Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
Intokozo yenhliziyo yethu iphelile, ukugida kwethu kwaphenduka ukulila.
16 The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
Umqhele wekhanda lethu uwile; hawu, maye kithi, ngoba sonile!
17 Because of this, our hearts are faint; because of these, our eyes grow dim—
Ngenxa yalokhu inhliziyo yethu iphela amandla; ngenxa yalezizinto amehlo ethu afiphele.
18 because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, patrolled by foxes.
Ngenxa yentaba yeZiyoni elunxiwa, amakhanka ahamba phezu kwayo.
19 You, O LORD, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation.
Wena, Nkosi, uhlezi kuze kube nininini, isihlalo sakho sobukhosi sisuka esizukulwaneni sisiya esizukulwaneni.
20 Why have You forgotten us forever? Why have You forsaken us for so long?
Usikhohlweleni njalonjalo, usidela okobude bezinsuku?
21 Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return; renew our days as of old,
Siphendulele kuwe, Nkosi, sizaphenduka; yenza insuku zethu zibe zintsha njengasendulo.
22 unless You have utterly rejected us and remain angry with us beyond measure.
Kodwa ususilahlile isibili; usithukuthelele kakhulukazi.
