Lamentations 5:1-16

1O Lord, remember what has come upon us; Look, and see our reproach (national disgrace)!

2Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, Our houses to foreigners.

3We have become orphans without a father; Our mothers are like widows.

4We have to pay for our drinking water; Our wood comes to us at a price.

5Our pursuers are at our necks; We are worn out, there is no rest for us.

6We have given the hand [as a pledge of fidelity and submission] to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.

7Our fathers sinned, and are no more; It is we who have carried their sin.

8Servants rule over us; There is no one to rescue us out of their hand.

9We get our bread at the risk of our lives Because of the sword [of the Arabs] in the wilderness [who may attack if we go out to harvest the crop].

10Our skin is as hot as [the heat of] an oven Because of the burning heat of [the fever of] famine.

11They ravished the women in Zion, The virgins in the cities of Judah.

12Princes were hung by their hands; Elders were not respected.

13Young men worked at the grinding mill, And boys fell [staggering] under loads of wood.

14Elders are gone from the gate; Young men from their music.

15The joy of our hearts has ended; Our dancing has been turned into mourning.

16The crown has fallen from our head [our honor is covered with dust]! Woe to us, for we have sinned!