Lamentations

5 Remember, O Yahweh, what hath befallen us, Look around and see our reproach:

2 Our inheritance turned over to foreigners, Our houses to aliens.

3 Orphans have we become and fatherless, Our mothers are widows indeed.

4 Our water—for silver have we drunk, Our wood—for a price cometh in.

5 Upon our necks are our pursuers, We labour and there is allowed us no rest.

6 To Egypt have we stretched out our hand, To Assyria to be satisfied with bread.

7 Our fathers sinned and are not, And we their iniquities have borne.

8 Slaves have ruled over us, There is none to set free from their hand.

9 At the risk of our life do we bring in our bread, Because of the sword of the desert.

10 Our skin as with a furnace is scorched, Because of the hot winds of famine.

11 Women—in Zion were ravished, Virgins in the cities of Judah!

12 Princes by their hand have been hanged, The faces of elders not honoured.

13 Young men a millstone have lifted, And youths under wood have staggered.

14 Elders from the gates have ceased, Young men from their music.

15 Ceased hath the joy of our hearts, Changed to mourning our dance.

16 Fallen is the crown of our head. Surely woe to us for we have sinned.

17 For this cause faint is our heart, For these things dimmed are our eyes:

18 Because of Mount Zion which is desolate, Jackals have gone prowling therein.

19 Thou O Yahweh unto times age-abiding dost remain, Thy throne from generation to generation:

20 Wherefore shouldst thou perpetually forget us? Forsake us to length of days?

21 Bring us back, O Yahweh, unto thyself And we will come back! Renew our days as of old;

22 For though thou hast not utterly rejected us, Thou art wroth with us—exceedingly!