Lamentations 5
1 Lord, please remember what's happened to us. Look at us and see how we've been humiliated!
Khumbula, Nkosi, ukuthi kwenzakaleni kithi; khangela, ubone ihlazo lethu.
2 The land we used to own has been handed over to strangers, our houses have been given to foreigners.
Ilifa lethu seliphendulelwe kwabezizwe, izindlu zethu kwabemzini.
3 We have lost our fathers, and our mothers are widows.
Siyizintandane, kungelababa; omama banjengabafelokazi.
4 The water we drink we have to pay for; our firewood comes at a price.
Amanzi ethu siwanathile ngemali; inkuni zethu ziza ngentengo.
5 Like animals we're driven along with harnesses around our necks; we're worn out but don't find any rest.
Sizingelwa ezintanyeni zethu, sidiniwe, kasilakuphumula.
6 We allied ourselves with Egypt and Assyria so we could have plenty of food.
Sinike isandla sethu kwabeGibhithe, labeAsiriya, ukuze sisuthiswe ngesinkwa.
7 Our forefathers sinned and they're gone, but we're being punished for their sins.
Obaba bona, kabasekho, njalo thina sithwele iziphambeko zabo.
8 Servants of our conqueror rule over us; no one can save us from their power.
Izigqili ziyasibusa, kakho ongasihluthuna esandleni sazo.
9 We take our lives in our hands when we look for food, because of the armed raiders in the desert.
Sizuza isinkwa sethu ngengozi yempilo yethu, ngenxa yenkemba yenkangala.
10 Our skin is hot like an oven because of the fever caused by hunger.
Ijwabu lethu limnyama njengeziko ngenxa yokutshisa okukhulu kwendlala.
11 They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.
Badlova abesifazana eZiyoni, izintombi ezimsulwa emizini yakoJuda.
12 Princes have been hung up by their hands; they show elders no respect.
Iziphathamandla zaphanyekwa ngesandla sazo; ubuso babadala kabuhlonitshwanga.
13 Young men are forced to work at hand-mills; boys stagger under bundles of wood.
Amajaha athwala amatshe okuchola, labafana bakhubeka ngaphansi kwenkuni.
14 The elders have abandoned their places at the city gate; the young men have given up playing their music.
Abadala baphelile esangweni, amajaha ekuhlabeleleni.
15 There's no more happiness for us; our dancing has turned into mourning.
Intokozo yenhliziyo yethu iphelile, ukugida kwethu kwaphenduka ukulila.
16 The crown has fallen from our head. What a disaster has come upon us because we have sinned!
Umqhele wekhanda lethu uwile; hawu, maye kithi, ngoba sonile!
17 Because of all this, we're sick at heart; because of all these things, we can hardly look;
Ngenxa yalokhu inhliziyo yethu iphela amandla; ngenxa yalezizinto amehlo ethu afiphele.
18 Because of Mount Zion, which has been abandoned, and where only foxes roam.
Ngenxa yentaba yeZiyoni elunxiwa, amakhanka ahamba phezu kwayo.
19 But you, Lord, live forever! You rule for all generations!
Wena, Nkosi, uhlezi kuze kube nininini, isihlalo sakho sobukhosi sisuka esizukulwaneni sisiya esizukulwaneni.
20 So why have you forgotten us for such a long time? Why have you abandoned us for so many years?
Usikhohlweleni njalonjalo, usidela okobude bezinsuku?
21 Bring us back to you, Lord, so we can be with you again. Please remake our lives like they used to be.
Siphendulele kuwe, Nkosi, sizaphenduka; yenza insuku zethu zibe zintsha njengasendulo.
22 Or have you have completely rejected us? Are you still really furious with us?
Kodwa ususilahlile isibili; usithukuthelele kakhulukazi.
