Lamentations 5
1 Lord, please remember what's happened to us. Look at us and see how we've been humiliated!
Remember, O Lord, what hath occurred to us, look down, and behold our disgrace.
2 The land we used to own has been handed over to strangers, our houses have been given to foreigners.
Our inheritance is turned over to strangers, our houses to aliens.
3 We have lost our fathers, and our mothers are widows.
Orphans are we become, and [we are] without a father, our mothers are like widows.
4 The water we drink we have to pay for; our firewood comes at a price.
Our water have we drunk for money: our wood cometh to us for a purchase price.
5 Like animals we're driven along with harnesses around our necks; we're worn out but don't find any rest.
Up to our necks are we pursued: we are fatigued, and no rest is allowed us.
6 We allied ourselves with Egypt and Assyria so we could have plenty of food.
To Egypt do we stretch out our hand, to Asshur, to be satisfied with bread.
7 Our forefathers sinned and they're gone, but we're being punished for their sins.
Our fathers have sinned, and are no more; but we have indeed to bear their iniquities.
8 Servants of our conqueror rule over us; no one can save us from their power.
Servants rule over us: no one delivereth us out of their hand.
9 We take our lives in our hands when we look for food, because of the armed raiders in the desert.
At the peril of our life must we bring home our bread, because of the sword of the wilderness.
10 Our skin is hot like an oven because of the fever caused by hunger.
Our skin gloweth like an oven, because of the heat of famine.
11 They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.
Women have they ravished in Zion, virgins, in the cities of Judah.
12 Princes have been hung up by their hands; they show elders no respect.
Princes were hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honored.
13 Young men are forced to work at hand-mills; boys stagger under bundles of wood.
Young men they bore to the mill, and boys stumbled under the wood.
14 The elders have abandoned their places at the city gate; the young men have given up playing their music.
The elders have ceased from the gate, young men, from their singing.
15 There's no more happiness for us; our dancing has turned into mourning.
Ceased hath the joy of our heart: our dance is changed into mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head. What a disaster has come upon us because we have sinned!
Fallen is the crown of our head: woe to us, for we have sinned.
17 Because of all this, we're sick at heart; because of all these things, we can hardly look;
Because of this is our heart made sick; for these things are our eyes dimmed;
18 Because of Mount Zion, which has been abandoned, and where only foxes roam.
Because of the mount of Zion which is wasted, foxes walk about on it.
19 But you, Lord, live forever! You rule for all generations!
O thou, Lord, wilt truly abide for ever, thy throne existeth throughout all generations.
20 So why have you forgotten us for such a long time? Why have you abandoned us for so many years?
Wherefore wilt thou forget us for ever! wilt thou forsake us for so long a time?
21 Bring us back to you, Lord, so we can be with you again. Please remake our lives like they used to be.
Cause us to return, O Lord, unto thee, and we will return: renew our days as of old.
22 Or have you have completely rejected us? Are you still really furious with us?
For wouldst thou entirely reject us, be wroth with us to the uttermost?
