1Lord, think about what has happened to us.
Look at the shame our enemies have brought on us.
2The land you gave us has been turned over to outsiders.
Our homes have been given to strangers.
3Our fathers have been killed.
Our mothers don’t have husbands.
4We have to buy the water we drink.
We have to pay for the wood we use.
5Those who chase us are right behind us.
We’re tired and can’t get any rest.
6We put ourselves under the control of Egypt and Assyria
just to get enough bread.
7Our people of long ago sinned.
And they are now dead.
We are being punished because of their sins.
8Slaves rule over us.
No one can set us free
from their power.
9We put our lives in danger just to get some bread to eat.
Robbers in the desert might kill us with their swords.
10Our skin is as hot as an oven.
We are so hungry we’re burning up with fever.
11Our women have been treated badly in Zion.
Our virgins have been treated badly in the towns of Judah.
12Our princes have been hung up by their hands.
No one shows our elders any respect.
13Our young men are forced to grind grain at the mill.
Our boys almost fall down
as they carry heavy loads of wood.
14Our elders don’t go to the city gate anymore.
Our young men have stopped playing their music.
15There isn’t any joy in our hearts.
Our dancing has turned into mourning.
16All of our honor is gone.
How terrible it is for us because we have sinned!
17So our hearts are weak.
Our eyes can’t see very clearly.
18Mount Zion has been deserted.
Wild dogs are prowling all around on it.
19Lord, you rule forever.
Your throne will last for all time to come.
20Why do you always forget us?
Why have you deserted us for so long?
21Lord, please bring us back to you.
Then we can return.
Make our lives like new again.
22Or have you completely turned away from us?
Are you really that angry with us?
15:1 Za 44:13-16; 89:50Kumbuka, Ee Bwana, yaliyotupata,
tazama, nawe uione aibu yetu.
25:2 Za 79:1; Sef 1:13; Yer 17:4Urithi wetu umegeuziwa kwa wageni,
na nyumba zetu kwa wageni.
35:3 Kut 22:24; Yer 15:8; 18:21Tumekuwa yatima wasio na baba,
mama zetu wamekuwa kama wajane.
45:4 Isa 55:1; Eze 4:16-17; Isa 3:1Ni lazima tununue maji tunayokunywa,
kuni zetu zapatikana tu kwa kununua.
55:5 Isa 47:6; Neh 9:37; Yos 1:13Wanaotufuatilia wapo kwenye visigino vyetu,
tumechoka na hakuna pumziko.
65:6 Yer 2:36; Mwa 24:2; Hos 5:13; 7:11; Yer 50:15; Hos 12:1Tumejitolea kwa Misri na Ashuru
tupate chakula cha kutosha.
75:7 Yer 14:20; 16:12; Eze 8:2; Yer 31:29; Eze 18:2; Mt 23:32Baba zetu walitenda dhambi na hawapo tena,
na sisi tunachukua adhabu yao.
85:8 Neh 5:15; Zek 11:6Watumwa wanatutawala
na hakuna wa kutuokoa mikononi yao.
9Tunapata chakula chetu kwa kuhatarisha maisha yetu
kwa sababu ya upanga jangwani.
105:10 Ay 30:30; Mao 4:8-9Ngozi yetu ina joto kama tanuru,
kwa sababu ya fadhaa itokanayo na njaa.
115:11 Mwa 34:29; Zek 14:2; Isa 13:16Wanawake wametendwa jeuri katika Sayuni,
na mabikira katika miji ya Yuda.
12Wakuu wametungikwa juu kwa mikono yao,
wazee hawapewi heshima.
135:13 Amu 13:16; 16:21Vijana wanataabika kwenye mawe ya kusagia,
wavulana wanayumbayumba chini ya mizigo ya kuni.
145:14 Isa 24:8; Yer 7:34; 2Fal 25:18Wazee wameondoka langoni la mji,
vijana wameacha kuimba nyimbo zao.
155:15 Amu 8:10; Yer 25:10Furaha imeondoka mioyoni mwetu,
kucheza kwetu kumegeuka maombolezo.
165:16 Yer 13:18; 14:20; Za 89:39; Ay 19:9; Isa 3:11Taji imeanguka kutoka kichwani petu.
Ole wetu, kwa maana tumetenda dhambi!
175:17 Ay 17:7; Za 6:7; 16:8; Yer 8:18Kwa sababu hiyo, mioyo yetu inazimia,
kwa sababu ya hayo, macho yetu yamefifia,
185:18 Isa 27:10; Mik 3:12; Za 74:2-4kwa ajili ya Mlima Sayuni, ambao unakaa ukiwa,
nao mbweha wanatembea juu yake.
195:19 1Nya 16:31; Za 45:6; 102:22-27Wewe, Ee Bwana unatawala milele,
kiti chako cha enzi chadumu kizazi hadi kizazi.
205:20 Za 13:1; 44:24; 71:11Kwa nini watusahau siku zote?
Kwa nini umetuacha kwa muda mrefu?
215:21 Isa 60:20-22; Za 80:3Turudishe kwako mwenyewe, Ee Bwana,
ili tupate kurudi.
Zifanye mpya siku zetu kama siku za kale,
225:22 Isa 64:9; Yer 6:30; Za 53:5; 60:12isipokuwa uwe umetukataa kabisa
na umetukasirikia pasipo kipimo.
