Lamentations 5
1 Lord, please remember what's happened to us. Look at us and see how we've been humiliated!
Remember, Yahweh, what has come on us. Look, and see our reproach.
2 The land we used to own has been handed over to strangers, our houses have been given to foreigners.
Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to aliens.
3 We have lost our fathers, and our mothers are widows.
We are orphans and fatherless. Our mothers are as widows.
4 The water we drink we have to pay for; our firewood comes at a price.
We must pay for water to drink. Our wood is sold to us.
5 Like animals we're driven along with harnesses around our necks; we're worn out but don't find any rest.
Our pursuers are on our necks. We are weary, and have no rest.
6 We allied ourselves with Egypt and Assyria so we could have plenty of food.
We have given our hands to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
7 Our forefathers sinned and they're gone, but we're being punished for their sins.
Our fathers sinned, and are no more. We have borne their iniquities.
8 Servants of our conqueror rule over us; no one can save us from their power.
Servants rule over us. There is no one to deliver 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.
We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 Our skin is hot like an oven because of the fever caused by hunger.
Our skin is black like an oven, because of the burning heat of famine.
11 They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.
They ravished the women in Zion, the 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 hands. The faces of elders were not honored.
13 Young men are forced to work at hand-mills; boys stagger under bundles of wood.
The young men carry millstones. The children stumbled under loads of 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, and the young men from their music.
15 There's no more happiness for us; our dancing has turned into mourning.
The joy of our heart has ceased. Our dance is turned into mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head. What a disaster has come upon us because we have sinned!
The crown has fallen from 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;
For this our heart is faint. For these things our eyes are dim:
18 Because of Mount Zion, which has been abandoned, and where only foxes roam.
for the mountain of Zion, which is desolate. The foxes walk on it.
19 But you, Lord, live forever! You rule for all generations!
You, Yahweh, remain forever. Your throne is from generation to generation.
20 So why have you forgotten us for such a long time? Why have you abandoned us for so many years?
Why do you forget us forever, and 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.
Turn us to yourself, Yahweh, and we will be turned. Renew our days as of old.
22 Or have you have completely rejected us? Are you still really furious with us?
But you have utterly rejected us. You are very angry against us.
