Lamentations 5
1 Lord, please remember what's happened to us. Look at us and see how we've been humiliated!
上主，求你眷念我們的遭遇，垂顧憐視我們受的恥辱。
2 The land we used to own has been handed over to strangers, our houses have been given to foreigners.
我們的產業，轉入外人手中；我們的房舍，歸屬了異邦人。
3 We have lost our fathers, and our mothers are widows.
我們自己變成了無父的孤兒，我們的母親好像寡婦一樣。
4 The water we drink we have to pay for; our firewood comes at a price.
我們自己的水，必須用錢買來喝；我們自己的木柴，需要用款換來。
5 Like animals we're driven along with harnesses around our necks; we're worn out but don't find any rest.
重軛加在我們的頸項上，受人折磨迫害；我們困憊疲乏，不得安息。
6 We allied ourselves with Egypt and Assyria so we could have plenty of food.
我們向埃及伸手，向亞述乞食充餓。
7 Our forefathers sinned and they're gone, but we're being punished for their sins.
我們的祖先犯了罪，已不存在；我們卻要承擔他們的罪債；
8 Servants of our conqueror rule over us; no one can save us from their power.
原是奴隸的人，竟然統治我們，但沒有人解救我們，脫離他們的手。
9 We take our lives in our hands when we look for food, because of the armed raiders in the desert.
我們面臨曠野刀劍的威脅，該冒性命的危險，纔能得到食糧。
10 Our skin is hot like an oven because of the fever caused by hunger.
我們的皮膚因飢餓而發炎，發熱有如火爐。
11 They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.
婦女們在熙雍被人強姦，處女們在猶大遭人奸污。
12 Princes have been hung up by their hands; they show elders no respect.
王臣被人縛手吊起，長老的儀容受人凌辱，
13 Young men are forced to work at hand-mills; boys stagger under bundles of wood.
青年人應該服役推磨，幼童倒在柴捆之下。
14 The elders have abandoned their places at the city gate; the young men have given up playing their music.
長老們不再安坐城門口，青年們不再奏樂高歌。
15 There's no more happiness for us; our dancing has turned into mourning.
我們心中已毫無樂趣，我們的歌舞反而變成悲愁。
16 The crown has fallen from our head. What a disaster has come upon us because we have sinned!
我們頭上的花冠已經墮地。我們犯罪的人，確是有禍的!
17 Because of all this, we're sick at heart; because of all these things, we can hardly look;
我們的心神所以徬徨，我們的眼睛所以模糊；
18 Because of Mount Zion, which has been abandoned, and where only foxes roam.
因為熙雍山已經荒蕪，狐狸成群出沒其間。
19 But you, Lord, live forever! You rule for all generations!
上主，至於你，你永遠常存，你的寶座萬世不替。
20 So why have you forgotten us for such a long time? Why have you abandoned us for so many years?
為什麼你常忘記我們﹖為什麼你常拋棄我們﹖
21 Bring us back to you, Lord, so we can be with you again. Please remake our lives like they used to be.
上主，求你叫我們歸向你，我們必定回心轉意；求你重整我們的時代，如同往昔一樣。
22 Or have you have completely rejected us? Are you still really furious with us?
你豈能完全擯棄我們，豈能向我們憤怒到底﹖
