Lamentations 5

A Prayer for Mercy

1 Remember, Lord, what has come upon us;

Look, and see our disgrace!

2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,

Our houses to foreigners.

3 We have become orphans, without a father;

Our mothers are like widows.

4 * 5:4 Lit We drink our water with silver We have to pay for our drinking water,

Our wood comes to us at a price.

5 * 5:5 Lit We have been pursued upon Our pursuers are at our necks;

We are worn out, we are given no rest.

6 We have *5:6 Lit given Egypt a handsubmitted to Egypt and Assyria *5:6 Lit to be satisfied withto get enough bread.

7 Our fathers sinned, and are gone;

It is we who have been burdened with the punishment for their wrongdoings.

8 Slaves rule over us;

There is no one to rescue us from their hand.

9 We get our bread *5:9 Lit with our soulat the risk of our lives

Because of the sword in the wilderness.

10 Our skin has become as hot as an oven,

Because of the ravages of hunger.

11 They violated the women in Zion,

The virgins in the cities of Judah.

12 Leaders were hung by their hands;

* 5:12 Lit The faces of elders Elders were not respected.

13 Young men *5:13 Lit carried theworked at the grinding mill,

And youths staggered under loads of wood.

14 Elders are absent from the gate,

Young men from their music.

15 The joy of our hearts has ended;

Our dancing has been turned into mourning.

16 The crown has fallen from our head;

Woe to us, for we have sinned!

17 Because of this our heart is faint,

Because of these things our eyes are dim;

18 Because of Mount Zion which lies desolate,

Jackals prowl in it.

19 You, Lord, *5:19 Lit sitrule forever;

Your throne is from generation to generation.

20 Why will You forget us forever?

Why do You abandon us for *5:20 Lit length of daysso long?

21 Restore us to You, Lord, so that we may be restored;

Renew our days as of old,

22 Unless You have utterly rejected us

And are exceedingly angry with us.