Lamentations 5
1 Remember, O Lord, what has happened to us: behold, and look on our reproach.
Remember, LORD, what has come on us. Look, and see our disgrace.
2 Our inheritance has been turned away to aliens, our houses to strangers:
Our inheritance is turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.
3 we are become orphans, we have no father, our mothers are as widows.
We are orphans and fatherless. Our mothers are like widows.
4 We have drunk our water for money; our wood is sold to us [for a burden] on our neck:
We have to pay for a drink of water; our wood is sold to us.
5 we have been persecuted, we have laboured, we have had no rest.
Our pursuers are on our necks; we are weary, and have no rest.
6 Egypt gave the hand [to us], Assur to their own satisfaction.
We have submitted to the Egyptians and to the Assyrians, to get enough bread.
7 Our fathers sinned, [and] are not: we have borne their iniquities.
Our fathers sinned, and are no more; but we have borne their iniquities.
8 Servants have ruled over us: there is none to ransom [us] out of their hand.
Servants rule over us: There is none to deliver us out of their hand.
9 We shall bring in our bread with [danger of] our lives, because of the sword of the wilderness.
We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 Our skin is blackened like an oven; they are convulsed, because of the storms of famine.
Our skin is hot like an oven, because of the burning heat of famine.
11 They humbled the women in Sion, the virgins in the cities of Juda.
They raped the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah.
12 Princes were hanged up by their hands: the elders were not honoured.
Princes were hung by their hands; elders were shown no respect.
13 The chosen men lifted up [the voice in] weeping, and the youths fainted under the wood.
The young men grind at the mill; the boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 And the elders ceased from the gate, the chosen men ceased from their music.
The elders have gone from the gate, the young men from their music.
15 The joy of our heart has ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.
The joy of our heart has ceased; our dancing is turned into mourning.
16 The crown has fallen [from] our head: yea, woe to us! for we have sinned.
The crown is fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned.
17 For this has grief come; our heart is sorrowful: for this our eyes are darkened.
For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes grow dim.
18 Over the mountain of Sion, because it is made desolate, foxes have walked therein.
For the mountain of Zion, which is desolate; the foxes walk on it.
19 But thou, O Lord, shalt dwell for ever; thy throne [shall endure] to generation and generation.
But you, LORD, abide forever; your throne is from generation to generation.
20 Wherefore wilt thou utterly forget us, and abandon us a long time?
Why do you keep on forgetting us? Why do you forsake us so long?
21 Turn us, O Lord, to thee, and we shall be turned; and renew our days as before.
Restore us to you, LORD, and we shall be restored; renew our days as in former times,
22 For thou hast indeed rejected us; thou hast been very wroth against us.
unless you have completely rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.
