1Remember, Lord, what has happened to us;
look, and see our disgrace.
2Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
our homes to foreigners.
3We have become fatherless,
our mothers are widows.
4We must buy the water we drink;
our wood can be had only at a price.
5Those who pursue us are at our heels;
we are weary and find no rest.
6We submitted to Egypt and Assyria
to get enough bread.
7Our ancestors sinned and are no more,
and we bear their punishment.
8Slaves rule over us,
and there is no-one to free us from their hands.
9We get our bread at the risk of our lives
because of the sword in the desert.
10Our skin is hot as an oven,
feverish from hunger.
11Women have been violated in Zion,
and virgins in the towns of Judah.
12Princes have been hung up by their hands;
elders are shown no respect.
13Young men toil at the millstones;
boys stagger under loads of wood.
14The elders are gone from the city gate;
the young men have stopped their music.
15Joy is gone from our hearts;
our dancing has turned to mourning.
16The crown has fallen from our head.
Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17Because of this our hearts are faint;
because of these things our eyes grow dim
18for Mount Zion, which lies desolate,
with jackals prowling over it.
19You, Lord, reign for ever;
your throne endures from generation to generation.
20Why do you always forget us?
Why do you forsake us so long?
21Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;
renew our days as of old
22unless you have utterly rejected us
and are angry with us beyond measure.
1Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows. 4We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.5.4 is…: Heb. cometh for price 5Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.5.5 Our…: Heb. On our necks are we persecuted 6We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread. 7Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities. 8Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand. 9We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness. 10Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.5.10 terrible: or, terrors, or, storms 11They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah. 12Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured. 13They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood. 14The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick. 15The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. 16The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!5.16 The…: Heb. The crown of our head is fallen
17For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim. 18Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it. 19Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation. 20Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?5.20 so…: Heb. for length of days? 21Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. 22But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.5.22 But…: or, For wilt thou utterly reject us?
