Lamentations 5
1 Remember, O YHWH, what has befallen us, Look attentively, and see our reproach.
Lord, please remember what's happened to us. Look at us and see how we've been humiliated!
2 Our inheritance has been turned to strangers, Our houses to foreigners.
The land we used to own has been handed over to strangers, our houses have been given to foreigners.
3 Orphans we have been—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, Our wood comes for a price.
The water we drink we have to pay for; our firewood comes at a price.
5 For our neck we have been pursued, We have labored—there has been no rest for us.
Like animals we're driven along with harnesses around our necks; we're worn out but don't find any rest.
6 [To] Egypt we have given a hand, [To] Asshur, to be satisfied with bread.
We allied ourselves with Egypt and Assyria so we could have plenty of food.
7 Our fathers have sinned—they are not, 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 is no deliverer from their hand.
Servants of our conqueror rule over us; no one can save us from their power.
9 With our lives we bring in our bread, Because of the sword of the wilderness.
We take our lives in our hands when we look for food, because of the armed raiders in the desert.
10 Our skin as an oven has been burning, Because of the raging of the famine.
Our skin is hot like an oven because of the fever caused by hunger.
11 Wives in Zion they have humbled, Virgins—in cities of Judah.
They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 Princes have been hanged by their hand, Elderly faces have not been honored.
Princes have been hung up by their hands; they show elders no respect.
13 They have taken young men to grind, And youths have stumbled with wood.
Young men are forced to work at hand-mills; boys stagger under bundles of wood.
14 Elderly have ceased from the gate, Young men from their song.
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 has ceased, Our dancing has been turned to mourning.
There's no more happiness for us; our dancing has turned into mourning.
16 The crown has fallen [from] our head, Woe [is] now to us, for we have sinned.
The crown has fallen from our head. What a disaster has come upon us because we have sinned!
17 Our heart has been sick for this, Our eyes have been dim for these.
Because of all this, we're sick at heart; because of all these things, we can hardly look;
18 For the Mount of Zion—that is desolate, Foxes have gone up on it.
Because of Mount Zion, which has been abandoned, and where only foxes roam.
19 You, O YHWH, remain for all time, Your throne to generation and generation.
But you, Lord, live forever! You rule for all generations!
20 Why do You forget us forever? You forsake us for [the] length of [our] days!
So why have you forgotten us for such a long time? Why have you abandoned us for so many years?
21 Turn us back, O YHWH, to You, And we turn back, renew our days as of old.
Bring us back to you, Lord, so we can be with you again. Please remake our lives like they used to be.
22 For have You utterly rejected us? You have been angry against us—exceedingly?
Or have you have completely rejected us? Are you still really furious with us?
