Lamentations 5:1–22

A Prayer for Mercy

1 Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us;

Look, and see our areproach!

2 Our inheritance has been turned over to astrangers,

Our bhouses to aliens.

3 We have become orphans awithout a father,

Our mothers are like widows.

4 1We have to pay for our drinking awater,

Our wood comes to us at a price.

5 1Our pursuers are at our necks;

We are worn out, there is ano rest for us.

6 We have 1submitted to aEgypt and Assyria 2to get enough bread.

7 Our afathers sinned, and are no more;

It is we who have borne their iniquities.

8 aSlaves rule over us;

There is bno one to deliver us from their hand.

9 We get our bread 1at the arisk of our lives

2Because of the sword in the wilderness.

10 Our skin has become as ahot as an oven,

Because of 1the burning heat of famine.

11 They ravished the awomen in Zion,

The virgins in the cities of Judah.

12 Princes were hung by their hands;

1aElders were not respected.

13 Young men 1aworked at the grinding mill,

And youths bstumbled under loads of wood.

14 Elders 1are gone from the gate,

Young men from their amusic.

15 The joy of our hearts has aceased;

Our dancing has been turned into mourning.

16 The acrown has fallen from our head;

bWoe to us, for we have sinned!

17 Because of this our aheart is faint,

Because of these things our beyes are dim;

18 Because of aMount Zion which lies desolate,

bFoxes prowl in it.

19 aYou, O Lord, 1rule forever;

Your bthrone is from generation to generation.

20 Why do You aforget us forever?

Why do You forsake us 1so long?

21 aRestore us to You, O Lord, that we may be restored;

Renew bour days as of old,

22 Unless aYou have utterly rejected us

And are exceedingly bangry with us.