Lamentations 5
Legacy Standard Bible
O Yahweh, Remember Us!
5 Remember, O Yahweh, what has happened to us;
Look, and see our (A)reproach!
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to (B)strangers,
Our (C)houses to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans (D)without a father;
Our mothers are like widows.
4 We drink our (E)water by means of silver;
Our wood comes to us at a price.
5 [a]Our pursuers are at our necks;
We are worn out; there is (F)no rest for us.
6 We have given over our [b]hands to (G)Egypt and Assyria [c]to get enough bread.
7 Our (H)fathers sinned; they are no more;
It is we who have borne their iniquities.
8 (I)Slaves rule over us;
There is (J)no one to tear us away from their hand.
9 We get our bread [d]at the (K)risk of our lives
[e]Because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 Our skin has become as (L)hot as an oven
Because of [f]the burning heat of famine.
11 They violated the (M)women in Zion,
The virgins in the cities of Judah.
12 Princes were hung by their hands;
[g](N)Elders were not respected.
13 Young men (O)lifted up the stone at the grinding mill,
And youths (P)stumbled down under loads of wood.
14 Elders have ceased from being at the gate,
Young men from their (Q)music.
15 The joy of our hearts has (R)ceased;
Our dancing has been turned into mourning.
16 The (S)crown has fallen from our head;
(T)Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 Because of this our (U)heart is faint;
Because of these things our (V)eyes are dim;
18 Because of (W)Mount Zion which lies desolate,
(X)Foxes walk about in it.
19 (Y)You, O Yahweh, sit enthroned forever;
Your (Z)throne is from generation to generation.
20 Why do You (AA)forget us forever?
Why do You forsake us [h]so long?
21 (AB)Cause us to return to You, O Yahweh, that we may be returned;
Renew (AC)our days as of old,
22 Even if (AD)You have utterly rejected us
And are exceedingly (AE)angry with us.
Footnotes
- Lamentations 5:5 Lit We have been pursued upon
- Lamentations 5:6 Lit hand
- Lamentations 5:6 Lit to be satisfied with
- Lamentations 5:9 Lit with our soul
- Lamentations 5:9 Or In the face of
- Lamentations 5:10 Or the ravages of hunger
- Lamentations 5:12 Lit The faces of elders
- Lamentations 5:20 Lit to length of days
Lamentations 5
Evangelical Heritage Version
Remember, Lord[a]
5 Remember, Lord, what happened to us. Look and see our disgrace.
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans without a father. Our mothers are widows.
4 We pay money to drink our own water. We must buy firewood for a price.
5 Our pursuers are at our throat. We are exhausted. We are given no rest.
6 We have made a deal with Egypt and Assyria to have enough bread.
7 Our fathers sinned. They are no more, and we have borne their guilt.
8 Slaves rule over us. No one rescues us from their hand.
9 We get bread at the risk of our life because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 Our skin is as hot as an oven because of fever from hunger.
11 Women in Zion have been violated, virgins in the cities of Judah.
12 Officials have been hung up by their hands. The dignity of elders has not been respected.
13 The best young men must grind grain, and boys stumble under loads of wood.[b]
14 Elders are no longer seated in the city gate. The best young men no longer play music.
15 The joy of our hearts has ceased. Our dancing has turned into mourning.
16 The crown has fallen off our head. Woe to us, because we have sinned!
17 Our heart is sick over this. Over these things our eyes have grown dim—
18 over Mount Zion, which is devastated, so that jackals prowl on it.
19 You, Lord, remain forever. Your throne remains for generation after generation.
20 Why do you forget us completely? Why do you abandon us for so long?
21 Lord, turn us back to you, and we will return. Renew our days like long ago,
22 unless you have completely rejected us and you will be angry at us without limit.[c]
Footnotes
- Lamentations 5:1 This is the only chapter in the book that is not an alphabetic acrostic, but its 22 verses echo the length of the alphabetic acrostic. The literary touches that were added by the acrostic form fade away as the poet is exhausted by grief.
- Lamentations 5:13 The meaning of this verse is uncertain.
- Lamentations 5:22 Or forever
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