Lamentations 5

Prayer for Restoration

1 Lord, remember what has happened to us.

Look, and see our disgrace!  * 5:1 Ps 74:18,22; 89:50–51

2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,

our houses to foreigners.

3 We have become orphans, fatherless;

our mothers are widows.

4 We must pay for the water we drink;

our wood comes at a price.

5 We are closely pursued;

we are tired, and no one offers us rest.

6 We made a treaty with  * 5:6 Lit We gave the hand to  Egypt

and with Assyria, to get enough food.  * 5:6 Hs 12:1

7 Our ancestors sinned; they no longer exist,

but we bear their punishment.  * 5:7 Ex 34:7; Lv 26:39; Dt 24:16; Ezk 18:2–4

8 Slaves rule over us;  * 5:8 Pr 30:21–23; Ec 10:7

no one rescues us from them.

9 We secure our food at the risk of our lives

because of the sword in the wilderness.

10 Our skin is as hot  * 5:10 Or black; Hb obscure as an oven  * 5:10 Lm 4:8

from the ravages of hunger.

11 Women have been raped in Zion,

virgins in the cities of Judah.

12 Princes have been hung up by their hands;

elders are shown no respect.  * 5:12 Lm 4:16

13 Young men labor at millstones;  * 5:13 Ex 11:5; Jdg 16:21; Is 47:2

boys stumble under loads of wood.

14 The elders have left the city gate,

the young men, their music.  * 5:14 Is 24:8

15 Joy has left our hearts;  * 5:15 Am 8:10

our dancing has turned to mourning.

16 The crown has fallen from our head.  * 5:16 Jb 19:9; Is 28:3; Jr 13:18

Woe to us, for we have sinned.  * 5:16 Jr 8:14; 14:20; Dn 9:11

17 Because of this, our heart is sick;

because of these, our eyes grow dim:  * 5:17 Ps 69:23; Ec 12:3

18 because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate

and has jackals prowling in it.  * 5:18 Is 13:19–22; 34:11–15

19 You, Lord, are enthroned forever;

your throne endures from generation to generation.  * 5:19 Ps 9:7; 45:6; 102:12; Ezk 43:7; Heb 1:8; Rv 4:9–10; 5:13

20 Why do you continually forget us,  * 5:20 Ps 13:1

abandon us for our entire lives?

21 Lord, bring us back to yourself, so we may return;  * 5:21 Jr 15:19; 31:18

renew our days as in former times,

22 unless you have completely rejected us

and are intensely angry with us.