Lamentations 5
1 Yahweh, think about what has happened to us. See that we have been disgraced.
Lord, please remember what's happened to us. Look at us and see how we've been humiliated!
2 Foreigners have seized our property, [and now] they live in our homes.
The land we used to own has been handed over to strangers, our houses have been given to foreigners.
3 [Our enemies] have killed our fathers; they caused our mothers to become widows.
We have lost our fathers, and our mothers are widows.
4 [Now] we are required to pay for water to drink, and we must pay [a lot of money] for firewood.
The water we drink we have to pay for; our firewood comes at a price.
5 [It is as though] those who pursue us are at our heels; we are exhausted, but they do not allow us to rest.
Like animals we're driven along with harnesses around our necks; we're worn out but don't find any rest.
6 In order to get enough food [to remain alive], we went to Egypt and Assyria and offered to work [for the people there].
We allied ourselves with Egypt and Assyria so we could have plenty of food.
7 Our ancestors sinned, and now they are dead, but we are being punished for the sins that they committed.
Our forefathers sinned and they're gone, but we're being punished for their sins.
8 [Officials from Babylon] who were [previously] slaves [now] rule over us, and there is no one who can rescue us from their power.
Servants of our conqueror rule over us; no one can save us from their power.
9 When we roam around in the desert searching for food, we are in danger of being killed, because people there kill strangers with their swords.
We take our lives in our hands when we look for food, because of the armed raiders in the desert.
10 Our skin has become hot like [SIM] an oven, and we have a very high fever because we are extremely hungry.
Our skin is hot like an oven because of the fever caused by hunger.
11 [Our enemies] have raped the women in Jerusalem, [and they have done that to] the young women in [all] the towns of Judea.
They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 [Our enemies] have hanged our leaders, and they do not respect our elders.
Princes have been hung up by their hands; they show elders no respect.
13 They force our young men to grind [flour] with millstones, and boys stagger while they [are forced to] carry [heavy] loads of firewood.
Young men are forced to work at hand-mills; boys stagger under bundles of wood.
14 [Our] elders no longer sit at the city gates [to make important decisions]; the young men no longer play their musical [instruments].
The elders have abandoned their places at the city gate; the young men have given up playing their music.
15 We [SYN] are no longer joyful; instead of dancing [joyfully], we now mourn.
There's no more happiness for us; our dancing has turned into mourning.
16 The wreaths [of flowers] have fallen off our heads. Terrible things have happened to us because of the sins that we committed.
The crown has fallen from our head. What a disaster has come upon us because we have sinned!
17 We [SYN] are tired and discouraged [IDM], and we cannot see well because our eyes are [full of tears].
Because of all this, we're sick at heart; because of all these things, we can hardly look;
18 Jerusalem is [completely] deserted, and jackals/wolves prowl around it.
Because of Mount Zion, which has been abandoned, and where only foxes roam.
19 But Yahweh, you rule forever! You continue to rule [MTY] from one generation to the next generation.
But you, Lord, live forever! You rule for all generations!
20 [So] why [RHQ] have you forgotten us? Why [RHQ] have you abandoned us for a very long time?
So why have you forgotten us for such a long time? Why have you abandoned us for so many years?
21 [Please] enable us to return to you, and enable us to prosper [MTY] as we did previously.
Bring us back to you, Lord, so we can be with you again. Please remake our lives like they used to be.
22 Please do that, because we hope that [RHQ] you have not rejected us forever and that [RHQ] you do not continue to be extremely angry with us!
Or have you have completely rejected us? Are you still really furious with us?
