Lamentations 5
1 Remember, O Lord, what is come vpon vs: consider, and behold our reproche.
Lord, please remember what's happened to us. Look at us and see how we've been humiliated!
2 Our inheritance is turned to the strangers, our houses to the aliants.
The land we used to own has been handed over to strangers, our houses have been given to foreigners.
3 We are fatherles, euen without father, and our mothers are as widowes.
We have lost our fathers, and our mothers are widows.
4 Wee haue drunke our water for money, and our wood is solde vnto vs.
The water we drink we have to pay for; our firewood comes at a price.
5 Our neckes are vnder persecution: we are wearie, and haue no rest.
Like animals we're driven along with harnesses around our necks; we're worn out but don't find any rest.
6 We haue giuen our handes to the Egyptians, and to Asshur, to be satisfied with bread.
We allied ourselves with Egypt and Assyria so we could have plenty of food.
7 Our fathers haue sinned, and are not, and we haue borne their iniquities.
Our forefathers sinned and they're gone, but we're being punished for their sins.
8 Seruants haue ruled ouer vs, none would deliuer vs out of their hands.
Servants of our conqueror rule over us; no one can save us from their power.
9 Wee gate our bread with the perill of our liues, because of the sword of the wildernesse.
We take our lives in our hands when we look for food, because of the armed raiders in the desert.
10 Our skinne was blacke like as an ouen because of the terrible famine.
Our skin is hot like an oven because of the fever caused by hunger.
11 They defiled the women in Zion, and the maydes in the cities of Iudah.
They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 The princes are hanged vp by their hande: the faces of the elders were not had in honour.
Princes have been hung up by their hands; they show elders no respect.
13 They tooke the yong men to grinde, and the children fell vnder the wood.
Young men are forced to work at hand-mills; boys stagger under bundles of wood.
14 The Elders haue ceased from the gate and the yong men from their songs.
The elders have abandoned their places at the city gate; the young men have given up playing their music.
15 The ioy of our heart is gone, our daunce is turned into mourning.
There's no more happiness for us; our dancing has turned into mourning.
16 The crowne of our head is fallen: wo nowe vnto vs, that we haue sinned.
The crown has fallen from our head. What a disaster has come upon us because we have sinned!
17 Therefore our heart is heauy for these things, our eyes are dimme,
Because of all this, we're sick at heart; because of all these things, we can hardly look;
18 Because of the mountaine of Zion which is desolate: the foxes runne vpon it.
Because of Mount Zion, which has been abandoned, and where only foxes roam.
19 But thou, O Lord, remainest for euer: thy throne is from generation to generation.
But you, Lord, live forever! You rule for all generations!
20 Wherefore doest thou forget vs for euer, and forsake vs so long time?
So why have you forgotten us for such a long time? Why have you abandoned us for so many years?
21 Turne thou vs vnto thee, O Lord, and we shalbe turned: renue our dayes as of olde.
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 vtterly reiected vs: thou art exceedingly angry against vs.
Or have you have completely rejected us? Are you still really furious with us?
