²⁰ Why do you continue to forget us?
    Why have you abandoned us for so long?

¹ O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
    How long will you look the other way?

²⁴ Why do you look the other way?
    Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?

⁹ Don’t be so angry with us, Lord.
    Please don’t remember our sins forever.
Look at us, we pray,
    and see that we are all your people.
¹⁰ Your holy cities are destroyed.
    Zion is a wilderness;
    yes, Jerusalem is a desolate ruin.
¹¹ The holy and beautiful Temple
    where our ancestors praised you
has been burned down,
    and all the things of beauty are destroyed.
¹² After all this, Lord, must you still refuse to help us?
    Will you continue to be silent and punish us?

⁴⁶ O Lord, how long will this go on?
    Will you hide yourself forever?
    How long will your anger burn like fire?

⁵ Will you be angry with us always?
    Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?

⁵ O Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Forever?
    How long will your jealousy burn like fire?

⁷ Has the Lord rejected me forever?
    Will he never again be kind to me?
⁸ Is his unfailing love gone forever?
    Have his promises permanently failed?
⁹ Has God forgotten to be gracious?
    Has he slammed the door on his compassion? Interlude