Lamentations 5

1 Lord, please remember what's happened to us. Look at us and see how we've been humiliated!

Remember, Yahweh, what has happened to us; look and see our disgrace.

2 The land we used to own has been handed over to strangers, our houses have been given to foreigners.

Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers; our houses to foreigners.

3 We have lost our fathers, and our mothers are widows.

We have become orphans, the fatherless, and our mothers are like widows.

4 The water we drink we have to pay for; our firewood comes at a price.

We must pay silver for the water we drink, and we must pay silver to get our own wood.

5 Like animals we're driven along with harnesses around our necks; we're worn out but don't find any rest.

Those who are coming after us are close behind us; we are weary and we can find no rest.

6 We allied ourselves with Egypt and Assyria so we could have plenty of food.

We have given ourselves to Egypt and to Assyria to get enough food.

7 Our forefathers sinned and they're gone, but we're being punished for their sins.

Our fathers sinned, and they are no more, and we bear their iniquities.

8 Servants of our conqueror rule over us; no one can save us from their power.

Slaves rule over us, and there is no one to deliver us from their hand.

9 We take our lives in our hands when we look for food, because of the armed raiders in the desert.

We get our bread only by risking our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness.

10 Our skin is hot like an oven because of the fever caused by hunger.

Our skin has grown as hot as an oven because of the burning heat of hunger.

11 They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.

Women are raped in Zion, and virgins in the cities of Judah.

12 Princes have been hung up by their hands; they show elders no respect.

Princes are hung up by their own hands, and no honor is shown to the elders.

13 Young men are forced to work at hand-mills; boys stagger under bundles of wood.

Young men are forced to grind grain with a millstone, and boys stagger under heavy loads of wood.

14 The elders have abandoned their places at the city gate; the young men have given up playing their music.

The elders have left the city gate, and the young men have left their music.

15 There's no more happiness for us; our dancing has turned into mourning.

The joy of our heart has ceased and our dancing has turned into mourning.

16 The crown has fallen from our head. What a disaster has come upon us because we have sinned!

The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!

17 Because of all this, we're sick at heart; because of all these things, we can hardly look;

For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes grow dim

18 Because of Mount Zion, which has been abandoned, and where only foxes roam.

for Mount Zion lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.

19 But you, Lord, live forever! You rule for all generations!

But you, Yahweh, reign forever, and you will sit upon your throne from generation to generation.

20 So why have you forgotten us for such a long time? Why have you abandoned us for so many years?

Why do you forget us forever? Why do you forsake us for so many days?

21 Bring us back to you, Lord, so we can be with you again. Please remake our lives like they used to be.

Restore us to yourself, Yahweh, and we will be restored. Renew our days as they were long ago—

22 Or have you have completely rejected us? Are you still really furious with us?

unless you have utterly rejected us and you are angry with us beyond measure.