Lamentations 5

1 Remember, Yahweh, what has come on us. Look, and see our reproach.

Remember, YHWH, what has come on us. Look, and see our disgrace.

2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to aliens.

Our inheritance is turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.

3 We are orphans and fatherless. Our mothers are as widows.

We are orphans and fatherless. Our mothers are like widows.

4 We must pay for water to drink. Our wood is sold to us.

We have to pay for a drink of water; our wood is sold to us.

5 Our pursuers are on our necks. We are weary, and have no rest.

Our pursuers are on our necks; we are weary, and have no rest.

6 We have given our hands to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

We have submitted to the Egyptians and to the Assyrians, to get enough bread.

7 Our fathers sinned, and are no more. We have borne their iniquities.

Our fathers sinned, and are no more; but we have borne their iniquities.

8 Servants rule over us. There is no one to deliver us out of their hand.

Servants rule over us: There is none to deliver us out of their hand.

9 We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness.

We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness.

10 Our skin is black like an oven, because of the burning heat of famine.

Our skin is hot like an oven, because of the burning heat of famine.

11 They ravished the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah.

They raped the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah.

12 Princes were hanged up by their hands. The faces of elders were not honored.

Princes were hung by their hands; elders were shown no respect.

13 The young men carry millstones. The children stumbled under loads of wood.

The young men grind at the mill; the boys stagger under loads of wood.

14 The elders have ceased from the gate, and the young men from their music.

The elders have gone from the gate, the young men from their music.

15 The joy of our heart has ceased. Our dance is turned into mourning.

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

16 The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!

The crown is fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned.

17 For this our heart is faint. For these things our eyes are dim:

For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes grow dim.

18 for the mountain of Zion, which is desolate. The foxes walk on it.

For the mountain of Zion, which is desolate; the foxes walk on it.

19 You, Yahweh, remain forever. Your throne is from generation to generation.

But you, YHWH, abide forever; your throne is from generation to generation.

20 Why do you forget us forever, and forsake us for so long a time?

Why do you keep on forgetting us? Why do you forsake us so long?

21 Turn us to yourself, Yahweh, and we will be turned. Renew our days as of old.

Restore us to you, YHWH, and we shall be restored; renew our days as in former times,

22 But you have utterly rejected us. You are very angry against us.

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