Lamentations 5:7-18

English Standard Version

⁷ Our fathers sinned, and are no more;
    ^(A)and we bear their iniquities.
^8 (B)Slaves rule over us;
    there is none to deliver us from their hand.
^9 (C)We get our bread at the peril of our lives,
    because of the sword in the wilderness.
^10 (D)Our skin is hot as an oven
    with ^(E)the burning heat of famine.
¹¹ Women are raped in Zion,
    young women in the towns of Judah.
^12 (F)Princes are hung up by their hands;
    ^(G)no respect is shown to the elders.
¹³ Young men are compelled to ^(H)grind at the mill,
    and boys stagger ^(I)under loads of wood.
^14 (J)The old men have left the city gate,
    the young men ^(K)their music.
^15 (L)The joy of our hearts has ceased;
    ^(M)our dancing has been turned to mourning.
^16 (N)The crown has fallen from our head;
    woe to us, for we have sinned!
¹⁷ For this ^(O)our heart has become sick,
    for these things ^(P)our eyes have grown dim,
¹⁸ for Mount Zion which lies desolate;
    ^(Q)jackals prowl over it.