Lamentations 5:2-22
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 5
2Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, Our houses to foreigners. 3We have become orphans, without a father; Our mothers are like widows. 4 We have to pay for our drinking water, Our wood comes to us at a price. 5 Our pursuers are at our necks; We are worn out, we are given no rest. 6We have submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread. 7Our fathers sinned, and are gone; It is we who have been burdened with the punishment for their wrongdoings. 8Slaves rule over us; There is no one to rescue us from their hand. 9We get our bread at the risk of our lives Because of the sword in the wilderness. 10Our skin has become as hot as an oven, Because of the ravages of hunger. 11They violated the women in Zion, The virgins in the cities of Judah. 12Leaders were hung by their hands; Elders were not respected. 13Young men worked at the grinding mill, And youths staggered under loads of wood. 14Elders are absent 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; Woe to us, for we have sinned! 17Because of this our heart is faint, Because of these things our eyes are dim; 18Because of Mount Zion which lies desolate, Jackals prowl in it. 19You, Lord, rule forever; Your throne is from generation to generation. 20Why will You forget us forever? Why do You abandon us for so long? 21Restore us to You, Lord, so that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old, 22Unless You have utterly rejected us And are exceedingly angry with us.King James Version
Chapter 5
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. 5Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest. 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. 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!
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?
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.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 5
2Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners. 3We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are widows. 4We must pay for the water we drink; our wood comes at a price. 5We are closely pursued; we are tired, and no one offers us rest. 6We made a treaty with Egypt and with Assyria, to get enough food. 7Our ancestors sinned; they no longer exist, but we bear their punishment. 8Slaves rule over us; no one rescues us from them. 9We secure our food at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the wilderness. 10Our skin is as hot as an oven from the ravages of hunger. 11Women have been raped in Zion, virgins in the cities of Judah. 12Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect. 13Young men labor at millstones; boys stumble under loads of wood. 14The elders have left the city gate, the young men, their music. 15Joy has left 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 heart is sick; because of these, our eyes grow dim: 18because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate and has jackals prowling in it. 19You, Lord, are enthroned forever; your throne endures from generation to generation. 20Why do you continually forget us, abandon us for our entire lives? 21Lord, bring us back to yourself, so we may return; renew our days as in former times, 22unless you have completely rejected us and are intensely angry with us.New Living Translation
Chapter 5
2Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners. 3We are orphaned and fatherless. Our mothers are widowed. 4We have to pay for water to drink, and even firewood is expensive. 5Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are exhausted but are given no rest. 6We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough food to survive. 7Our ancestors sinned, but they have died — and we are suffering the punishment they deserved!
8Slaves have now become our masters; there is no one left to rescue us.
9We hunt for food at the risk of our lives, for violence rules the countryside.
10The famine has blackened our skin as though baked in an oven.
11Our enemies rape the women in Jerusalem and the young girls in all the towns of Judah.
12Our princes are being hanged by their thumbs, and our elders are treated with contempt.
13Young men are led away to work at millstones, and boys stagger under heavy loads of wood.
14The elders no longer sit in the city gates; the young men no longer dance and sing.
15Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
16The garlands have fallen from our heads. Weep for us because we have sinned.
17Our hearts are sick and weary, and our eyes grow dim with tears.
18For Jerusalem is empty and desolate, a place haunted by jackals.
19But Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation.
20Why do you continue to forget us? Why have you abandoned us for so long?
21Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!
22Or have you utterly rejected us? Are you angry with us still?
English Standard Version
Chapter 5
2Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners. 3We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows. 4We must pay for the water we drink; the wood we get must be bought. 5Our pursuers are at our necks; we are weary; we are given no rest. 6We have given the hand to Egypt, and to Assyria, to get bread enough. 7Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bear their iniquities. 8Slaves rule over us; there is none to deliver us from their hand. 9We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness. 10Our skin is hot as an oven with the burning heat of famine. 11Women are raped in Zion, young women in the towns of Judah. 12Princes are hung up by their hands; no respect is shown to the elders. 13Young men are compelled to grind at the mill, and boys stagger under loads of wood. 14The old men have left the city gate, the young men their music. 15The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning. 16The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned! 17For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim, 18for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it. 19But you, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations. 20Why do you forget us forever, why do you forsake us for so many days? 21Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old— 22unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us.New International Version
Chapter 5
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 forever; 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.
New King James Version
