Lamentations 5
1 Lord, haue thou mynde what bifelle to vs; se thou, and biholde oure schenschipe.
Lord, please remember what's happened to us. Look at us and see how we've been humiliated!
2 Oure eritage is turned to aliens, oure housis ben turned to straungers.
The land we used to own has been handed over to strangers, our houses have been given to foreigners.
3 We ben maad fadirles children with out fadir; oure modris ben as widewis.
We have lost our fathers, and our mothers are widows.
4 We drunken oure watir for monei, we bouyten oure trees for siluer.
The water we drink we have to pay for; our firewood comes at a price.
5 We weren dryuun bi oure heedis, and reste was not youun to feynt men.
Like animals we're driven along with harnesses around our necks; we're worn out but don't find any rest.
6 We yauen hond to Egipt, and to Assiriens, that we schulden be fillid with breed.
We allied ourselves with Egypt and Assyria so we could have plenty of food.
7 Oure fadris synneden, and ben not, and we baren the wickidnessis of hem.
Our forefathers sinned and they're gone, but we're being punished for their sins.
8 Seruauntis weren lordis of vs, and noon was, that ayenbouyte fro the hond of hem.
Servants of our conqueror rule over us; no one can save us from their power.
9 In oure lyues we brouyten breed to vs, fro the face of swerd in desert.
We take our lives in our hands when we look for food, because of the armed raiders in the desert.
10 Oure skynne is brent as a furneis, of the face of tempestis of hungur.
Our skin is hot like an oven because of the fever caused by hunger.
11 Thei maden low wymmen in Sion, and virgyns in the citees of Juda.
They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 Princes weren hangid bi the hond; thei weren not aschamed of the faces of elde men.
Princes have been hung up by their hands; they show elders no respect.
13 Thei mysusiden yonge wexynge men vnchastli, and children fellen doun in tree.
Young men are forced to work at hand-mills; boys stagger under bundles of wood.
14 Elde men failiden fro yatis; yonge men failiden of the queer of singeris.
The elders have abandoned their places at the city gate; the young men have given up playing their music.
15 The ioie of oure herte failide; oure song is turned in to mourenyng.
There's no more happiness for us; our dancing has turned into mourning.
16 The coroun of oure heed fellen doun; wo to vs! for we synneden.
The crown has fallen from our head. What a disaster has come upon us because we have sinned!
17 Therfor oure herte is maad soreuful, therfor oure iyen ben maad derk.
Because of all this, we're sick at heart; because of all these things, we can hardly look;
18 For the hil of Sion, for it perischide; foxis yeden in it.
Because of Mount Zion, which has been abandoned, and where only foxes roam.
19 But thou, Lord, schal dwelle with outen ende; thi seete schal dwelle in generacioun and in to generacioun.
But you, Lord, live forever! You rule for all generations!
20 Whi schalt thou foryete vs with outen ende, schalt thou forsake vs in to lengthe of daies?
So why have you forgotten us for such a long time? Why have you abandoned us for so many years?
21 Lord, conuerte thou vs to thee, and we schal be conuertid; make thou newe oure daies, as at the bigynnyng.
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 castynge awei hast cast awei vs; thou art wrooth ayens vs greetli.
Or have you have completely rejected us? Are you still really furious with us?
