Lamentationes 5
1 Recordare Domine quid acciderit nobis: intuere, et respice opprobrium nostrum.
Lord, please remember what's happened to us. Look at us and see how we've been humiliated!
2 Hereditas nostra versa est ad alienos: domus nostrae ad extraneos.
The land we used to own has been handed over to strangers, our houses have been given to foreigners.
3 Pupilli facti sumus absque patre, matres nostrae quasi viduae.
We have lost our fathers, and our mothers are widows.
4 Aquam nostram pecunia bibimus: ligna nostra pretio comparavimus.
The water we drink we have to pay for; our firewood comes at a price.
5 Cervicibus nostris minabamur, lassis non dabatur requies.
Like animals we're driven along with harnesses around our necks; we're worn out but don't find any rest.
6 Aegypto dedimus manum, et Assyriis ut saturaremur pane.
We allied ourselves with Egypt and Assyria so we could have plenty of food.
7 Patres nostri peccaverunt, et non sunt: et nos iniquitates eorum portavimus.
Our forefathers sinned and they're gone, but we're being punished for their sins.
8 Servi dominati sunt nostri: non fuit qui redimeret de manu eorum.
Servants of our conqueror rule over us; no one can save us from their power.
9 In animabus nostris afferebamus panem nobis, a facie gladii in deserto.
We take our lives in our hands when we look for food, because of the armed raiders in the desert.
10 Pellis nostra, quasi clibanus exusta est a facie tempestatum famis.
Our skin is hot like an oven because of the fever caused by hunger.
11 Mulieres in Sion humiliaverunt, et virgines in civitatibus Iuda.
They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 Principes manu suspensi sunt: facies senum non erubuerunt.
Princes have been hung up by their hands; they show elders no respect.
13 Adolescentibus impudice abusi sunt: et pueri in ligno corruerunt.
Young men are forced to work at hand-mills; boys stagger under bundles of wood.
14 Senes defecerunt de portis: iuvenes de choro psallentium.
The elders have abandoned their places at the city gate; the young men have given up playing their music.
15 Defecit gaudium cordis nostri: versus est in luctum chorus noster.
There's no more happiness for us; our dancing has turned into mourning.
16 Cecidit corona capitis nostri: vae nobis, quia peccavimus.
The crown has fallen from our head. What a disaster has come upon us because we have sinned!
17 Propterea moestum factum est cor nostrum, ideo contenebrati sunt oculi nostri.
Because of all this, we're sick at heart; because of all these things, we can hardly look;
18 Propter montem Sion quia disperiit, vulpes ambulaverunt in eo.
Because of Mount Zion, which has been abandoned, and where only foxes roam.
19 Tu autem Domine in aeternum permanebis, solium tuum in generatione et generationem.
But you, Lord, live forever! You rule for all generations!
20 Quare in perpetuum oblivisceris nostri? derelinques nos in longitudine dierum?
So why have you forgotten us for such a long time? Why have you abandoned us for so many years?
21 Converte nos Domine ad te, et convertemur: innova dies nostros, sicut a principio.
Bring us back to you, Lord, so we can be with you again. Please remake our lives like they used to be.
22 Sed proiiciens repulisti nos, iratus es contra nos vehementer.
Or have you have completely rejected us? Are you still really furious with us?
