Lamentations 5

1Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.

2Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.

3We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.

4We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.footnote a

5Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.footnote b

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

7Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.

8Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand.

9We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.

10Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.footnote c

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

12Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured.

13They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood.

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

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

16The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!footnote d

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

18Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.

19Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.

20Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?footnote e

21Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

22But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.footnote f

A Prayer for Restoration

1Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us.Look and see our disgrace! 2Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,our houses to foreigners. 3We have become fatherless orphans;our mothers are widows. 4We must buy the water we drink;our wood comes at a price. 5We are closely pursued;we are weary and find no rest.

6We submitted to Egypt and Assyriato get enough bread. 7Our fathers sinned and are no more,but we bear their punishment. 8Slaves rule over us;there is no one to deliver us from their hands. 9We get our bread at the risk of our livesbecause of the sword in the wilderness. 10Our skin is as hot as an ovenwith fever from our hunger.

11Women have been ravished in Zion,virgins in the cities of Judah. 12Princes have been hung up by their hands;elders receive no respect. 13Young men toil at millstones;boys stagger under loads of wood. 14The elders have left the city gate;the young men have stopped their music. 15Joy has left our hearts;our dancing has turned to mourning. 16The crown has fallen from our head.Woe to us, for we have sinned!

17Because of this, our hearts are faint;because of these, our eyes grow dim— 18because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate,patrolled by foxes.

19You, O LORD, reign forever;Your throne endures from generation to generation. 20Why have You forgotten us forever?Why have You forsaken us for so long? 21Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return;renew our days as of old, 22unless You have utterly rejected usand remain angry with us beyond measure.