5 Lord, consider what has become of us; take notice of our disgrace. Look at it!
² Our property has been turned over to strangers;
        our houses belong to foreigners.
³ We have become orphans, having no father;
        our mothers are like widows.
⁴ We drink our own water—but for a price;
        we gather our own wood—but pay for it.
⁵ Our hunters have been at our necks;^[a]
        we are worn out, but have no rest.
⁶ We held out a hand to Egypt
        and to Assyria, to get sufficient food.
⁷         Our fathers have sinned and are gone,
        but we are burdened with their iniquities.
⁸ Slaves rule over us;
        there is no one to rescue us from their power.
⁹ We get our bread at the risk of our lives
        because of the desert heat.^[b]
10 Our skin is as hot as an oven
        because of the burning heat of famine.
¹¹ Women have been raped in Zion,
        young women in Judah’s cities.
¹² Officials have been hung up by their hands;
        elders have been shown no respect.
¹³ Young men have carried grinding stones;
        boys have stumbled under loads of wood.
¹⁴ Elders have left the city gate;
        young people stop their music.
¹⁵ Joy has left our heart;
        our dancing has changed into lamentation.
¹⁶ The crown has fallen off our head.
        We are doomed because we have sinned.
¹⁷ Because of all this our heart is sick;
        because of these things our glance is dark.
¹⁸ Mount Zion, now deserted—
        only jackals walk on it now!
¹⁹ But you, Lord, will rule forever;
        your throne lasts from one generation to the next.
²⁰ Why do you forget us continually;
        why do you abandon us for such a long time?
²¹ Return us, Lord, to yourself. Please let us return!^[c]
        Give us new days, like those long ago—
²² unless you have completely rejected us,
        or have become too angry with us.^[d]