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Lamentations 5

One last prayer. Remember, Lord, what has happened to us. Restore us to yourself — unless you have utterly rejected us.

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Remember, Lord

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

1

Remember, Lord, what has happened to us;
look, and see our disgrace.

King James Version, 1611

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

2

Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
our homes to foreigners.

King James Version, 1611

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

3

We have become fatherless,
our mothers are widows.

King James Version, 1611

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

4

We must buy the water we drink;
our wood can be had only at a price.

King James Version, 1611

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

5

Those who pursue us are at our heels;
we are weary and find no rest.

King James Version, 1611

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

6

We submitted to Egypt and Assyria
to get enough bread.

King James Version, 1611

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

7

Our ancestors sinned and are no more,
and we bear their punishment.

King James Version, 1611

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

8

Slaves rule over us,
and there is no one to free us from their hands.

King James Version, 1611

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

9

We get our bread at the risk of our lives
because of the sword in the desert.

King James Version, 1611

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

10

Our skin is hot as an oven,
feverish from hunger.

King James Version, 1611

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

11

Women have been violated in Zion,
and virgins in the towns of Judah.

King James Version, 1611

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

12

Princes have been hung up by their hands;
elders are shown no respect.

King James Version, 1611

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

13

Young men toil at the millstones;
boys stagger under loads of wood.

King James Version, 1611

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

14

The elders are gone from the city gate;
the young men have stopped their music.

King James Version, 1611

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

15

Joy is gone from our hearts;
our dancing has turned to mourning.

King James Version, 1611

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

16

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

King James Version, 1611

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

17

Because of this our hearts are faint,
because of these things our eyes grow dim

King James Version, 1611

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

18

for Mount Zion, which lies desolate,
with jackals prowling over it.

King James Version, 1611

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

19

You, Lord, reign forever;
your throne endures from generation to generation.

King James Version, 1611

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

20

Why do you always forget us?
Why do you forsake us so long?

King James Version, 1611

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

21

Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;
renew our days as of old

King James Version, 1611

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

22

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

King James Version, 1611

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