Lamentations 5
1 Remember, Yahweh, what has happened to us; look and see our disgrace.
Remember, LORD, what has come on us. Look, and see our disgrace.
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers; our houses to foreigners.
Our inheritance is turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans, the fatherless, and our mothers are like widows.
We are orphans and fatherless. Our mothers are like widows.
4 We must pay silver for the water we drink, and we must pay silver to get our own wood.
We have to pay for a drink of water; our wood is sold to us.
5 Those who are coming after us are close behind us; we are weary and we can find no rest.
Our pursuers are on our necks; we are weary, and have no rest.
6 We have given ourselves to Egypt and to Assyria to get enough food.
We have submitted to the Egyptians and to the Assyrians, to get enough bread.
7 Our fathers sinned, and they are no more, and we bear their iniquities.
Our fathers sinned, and are no more; but we have borne their iniquities.
8 Slaves rule over us, and there is no one to deliver us from their hand.
Servants rule over us: There is none to deliver us out of their hand.
9 We get our bread only by risking our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness.
We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 Our skin has grown as hot as an oven because of the burning heat of hunger.
Our skin is hot like an oven, because of the burning heat of famine.
11 Women are raped in Zion, and virgins in the cities of Judah.
They raped the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah.
12 Princes are hung up by their own hands, and no honor is shown to the elders.
Princes were hung by their hands; elders were shown no respect.
13 Young men are forced to grind grain with a millstone, and boys stagger under heavy loads of wood.
The young men grind at the mill; the boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 The elders have left the city gate, and the young men have left their music.
The elders have gone from the gate, the young men from their music.
15 The joy of our heart has ceased and our dancing has turned into mourning.
The joy of our heart has ceased; our dancing is turned into mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!
The crown is fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned.
17 For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes grow dim
For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes grow dim.
18 for Mount Zion lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.
For the mountain of Zion, which is desolate; the foxes walk on it.
19 But you, Yahweh, reign forever, and you will sit upon your throne from generation to generation.
But you, LORD, abide forever; your throne is from generation to generation.
20 Why do you forget us forever? Why do you forsake us for so many days?
Why do you keep on forgetting us? Why do you forsake us so long?
21 Restore us to yourself, Yahweh, and we will be restored. Renew our days as they were long ago—
Restore us to you, LORD, and we shall be restored; renew our days as in former times,
22 unless you have utterly rejected us and you are angry with us beyond measure.
unless you have completely rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.
