Lamentations 5

English Standard Version

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