Lamentations 5
1 Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider and behold our reproach.
Lord, please remember what's happened to us. Look at us and see how we've been humiliated!
2 Our inheritance is turned to aliens: our houses to strangers.
The land we used to own has been handed over to strangers, our houses have been given to foreigners.
3 We are become orphans without a father: our mothers are as widows.
We have lost our fathers, and our mothers are widows.
4 We have drunk our water for money: we have bought our wood.
The water we drink we have to pay for; our firewood comes at a price.
5 We were dragged by the necks, we were weary and no rest was given us.
Like animals we're driven along with harnesses around our necks; we're worn out but don't find any rest.
6 We have given our hand to Egypt, and to the Assyrians, that we might be satisfied with bread.
We allied ourselves with Egypt and Assyria so we could have plenty of food.
7 Our fathers have sinned, and are not: and we have borne their iniquities.
Our forefathers sinned and they're gone, but we're being punished for their sins.
8 Servants have ruled over us: there was none to redeem us out of their hand.
Servants of our conqueror rule over us; no one can save us from their power.
9 We fetched our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the desert.
We take our lives in our hands when we look for food, because of the armed raiders in the desert.
10 Our skin was burnt as an oven, by reason of the violence of the famine.
Our skin is hot like an oven because of the fever caused by hunger.
11 They oppressed the women in Sion, and the virgins in the cities of Juda.
They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 The princes were hanged up by their hand: they did not respect the persons of the ancient.
Princes have been hung up by their hands; they show elders no respect.
13 They abused the young men indecently: and the children fell under the wood.
Young men are forced to work at hand-mills; boys stagger under bundles of wood.
14 The ancients have ceased from the gates: the young men from the choir of the singers.
The elders have abandoned their places at the city gate; the young men have given up playing their music.
15 The joy of our heart is ceased, our dancing is turned into mourning.
There's no more happiness for us; our dancing has turned into mourning.
16 The crown is fallen from our head woe to us, because we have sinned.
The crown has fallen from our head. What a disaster has come upon us because we have sinned!
17 Therefore is our heart sorrowful, therefore are our eyes become dim,
Because of all this, we're sick at heart; because of all these things, we can hardly look;
18 For mount Sion, because it is destroyed, foxes have walked upon it.
Because of Mount Zion, which has been abandoned, and where only foxes roam.
19 But thou, O Lord, shalt remain for ever, thy throne from generation to generation.
But you, Lord, live forever! You rule for all generations!
20 Why wilt thou forget us for ever? why wilt thou forsake us for a long time?
So why have you forgotten us for such a long time? Why have you abandoned us for so many years?
21 Convert us, O Lord, to thee, and we shall be converted: renew our days, as from the beginning.
Bring us back to you, Lord, so we can be with you again. Please remake our lives like they used to be.
22 But thou hast utterly rejected us, thou art exceedingly angry against us.
Or have you have completely rejected us? Are you still really furious with us?
