1 Remember, Lord, what has happened to us;
look, and see our disgrace.
look, and see our disgrace.
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
our homes to foreigners.
our homes to foreigners.
3 We have become fatherless,
our mothers are widows.
our mothers are widows.
4 We must buy the water we drink;
our wood can be had only at a price.
our wood can be had only at a price.
5 Those who pursue us are at our heels;
we are weary and find no rest.
we are weary and find no rest.
6 We submitted to Egypt and Assyria
to get enough bread.
to get enough bread.
7 Our ancestors sinned and are no more,
and we bear their punishment.
and we bear their punishment.
8 Slaves rule over us,
and there is no one to free us from their hands.
and there is no one to free us from their hands.
9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives
because of the sword in the desert.
because of the sword in the desert.
10 Our skin is hot as an oven,
feverish from hunger.
feverish from hunger.
11 Women have been violated in Zion,
and virgins in the towns of Judah.
and virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 Princes have been hung up by their hands;
elders are shown no respect.
elders are shown no respect.
13 Young men toil at the millstones;
boys stagger under loads of wood.
boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 The elders are gone from the city gate;
the young men have stopped their music.
the young men have stopped their music.
15 Joy is gone from our hearts;
our dancing has turned to mourning.
our dancing has turned to mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head.
Woe to us, for we have sinned!
Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 Because of this our hearts are faint,
because of these things our eyes grow dim
because of these things our eyes grow dim
18 for Mount Zion, which lies desolate,
with jackals prowling over it.
with jackals prowling over it.
19 You, Lord, reign forever;
your throne endures from generation to generation.
your throne endures from generation to generation.
20 Why do you always forget us?
Why do you forsake us so long?
Why do you forsake us so long?
21 Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;
renew our days as of old
renew our days as of old
22 unless you have utterly rejected us
and are angry with us beyond measure.
and are angry with us beyond measure.
Lamentations, 5 chapter