Lamentations 5 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

Restore Us to Yourself, O Lord

1 Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us; look, and see our disgrace! (Ps 89:50; La 3:61) 2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners. (Ps 79:1) 3 We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows. 4 We must pay for the water we drink; the wood we get must be bought. 5 Our pursuers are at our necks; we are weary; we are given no rest. (Jos 10:24) 6 We have given the hand to Egypt, and to Assyria, to get bread enough. (Ho 12:1) 7 Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bear their iniquities. (Jer 31:29; Eze 18:2) 8 Slaves rule over us; there is none to deliver us from their hand. (Pr 30:21) 9 We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness. (Jer 6:25) 10 Our skin is hot as an oven with the burning heat of famine. (De 32:24; La 4:8) 11 Women are raped in Zion, young women in the towns of Judah. 12 Princes are hung up by their hands; no respect is shown to the elders. (2Ki 25:19; La 4:16) 13 Young men are compelled to grind at the mill, and boys stagger under loads of wood. (Jos 9:27; Jud 16:21) 14 The old men have left the city gate, the young men their music. (Isa 24:8; La 5:12) 15 The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning. (La 5:14; Am 8:10) 16 The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned! (Ps 89:39; Jer 13:18; La 1:1) 17 For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim, (Isa 1:5; La 2:11) 18 for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it. (Isa 34:13) 19 But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations. (Ps 9:7; Ps 102:12; Ps 145:13) 20 Why do you forget us forever, why do you forsake us for so many days? (Ps 13:1) 21 Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old— (Ps 80:3; Ps 80:7; Ps 80:19; Jer 31:18)

Ps 80:3Ps 80:7Ps 80:19Jer 31:18

22 unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us. (Jer 14:19)

New International Version

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

King James Version

1 Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2 Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3 We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows. 4 We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us. 5 Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest. 6 We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread. 7 Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities. 8 Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand. 9 We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness. 10 Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine. 11 They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah. 12 Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured. 13 They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood. 14 The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick. 15 The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. 16 The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 17 For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim. 18 Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it. 19 Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation. 20 Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time? 21 Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. 22 But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.

New International Reader’s Version

1 LORD, think about what has happened to us. Look at the shame our enemies have brought on us. 2 The land you gave us has been turned over to outsiders. Our homes have been given to strangers. 3 Our fathers have been killed. Our mothers don’t have husbands. 4 We have to buy the water we drink. We have to pay for the wood we use. 5 Those who chase us are right behind us. We’re tired and can’t get any rest. 6 We put ourselves under the control of Egypt and Assyria just to get enough bread. 7 Our people of long ago sinned. And they are now dead. We are being punished because of their sins. 8 Slaves rule over us. No one can set us free from their power. 9 We put our lives in danger just to get some bread to eat. Robbers in the desert might kill us with their swords. 10 Our skin is as hot as an oven. We are so hungry we’re burning up with fever. 11 Our women have been treated badly in Zion. Our virgins have been treated badly in the towns of Judah. 12 Our princes have been hung up by their hands. No one shows our elders any respect. 13 Our young men are forced to grind corn at the mill. Our boys almost fall down as they carry heavy loads of wood. 14 Our elders don’t go to the city gate anymore. Our young men have stopped playing their music. 15 There isn’t any joy in our hearts. Our dancing has turned into mourning. 16 All of our honour is gone. How terrible it is for us because we have sinned! 17 So our hearts are weak. Our eyes can’t see very clearly. 18 Mount Zion has been deserted. Wild dogs are prowling all around on it. 19 LORD, you rule for ever. Your throne will last for all time to come. 20 Why do you always forget us? Why have you deserted us for so long? 21 LORD, please bring us back to you. Then we can return. Make our lives like new again. 22 Or have you completely turned away from us? Are you really that angry with us?