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Lamentations 5
Common English Bible
Lamentations 5
Common English Bible
The people’s complaint
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]
Footnotes
- Lamentations 5:5 Heb uncertain
- Lamentations 5:9 Or sword; Heb uncertain
- Lamentations 5:21 Or and we will return or so that we can return
- Lamentations 5:22 Or But instead you have completely rejected us, become too angry with us, or Because if you have completely rejected us, have become too angry with us.
Lamentations 5
Good News Translation
Lamentations 5
Good News Translation
A Prayer for Mercy
5 Remember, O Lord, what has happened to us.
Look at us, and see our disgrace.
2 Our property is in the hands of strangers;
foreigners are living in our homes.
3 Our fathers have been killed by the enemy,
and now our mothers are widows.
4 We must pay for the water we drink;
we must buy the wood we need for fuel.
5 Driven hard like donkeys or camels,
we are tired, but are allowed no rest.
6 To get food enough to stay alive,
we went begging to Egypt and Assyria.
7 Our ancestors sinned, but now they are gone,
and we are suffering for their sins.
8 Our rulers are no better than slaves,
and no one can save us from their power.
9 Murderers roam through the countryside;
we risk our lives when we look for food.
10 Hunger has made us burn with fever
until our skin is as hot as an oven.
11 Our wives have been raped on Mount Zion itself;
in every Judean village our daughters have been forced to submit.
12 Our leaders have been taken and hanged;
our elders are shown no respect.
13 Our young men are forced to grind grain like slaves;
boys go staggering under heavy loads of wood.
14 The old people no longer sit at the city gate,
and the young people no longer make music.
15 Happiness has gone out of our lives;
grief has taken the place of our dances.
16 Nothing is left of all we were proud of.
We sinned, and now we are doomed.
17 We are sick at our very hearts
and can hardly see through our tears,
18 because Mount Zion lies lonely and deserted,
and wild jackals prowl through its ruins.
19 But you, O Lord, are king forever
and will rule to the end of time.
20 Why have you abandoned us so long?
Will you ever remember us again?
21 Bring us back to you, Lord! Bring us back!
Restore our ancient glory.
22 Or have you rejected us forever?
Is there no limit to your anger?
Lamentations 5
New International Version
Lamentations 5
New International Version
5 Remember, Lord, what has happened to us;
look, and see our disgrace.(A)
2 Our inheritance(B) has been turned over to strangers,(C)
our homes(D) to foreigners.(E)
3 We have become fatherless,
our mothers are widows.(F)
4 We must buy the water we drink;(G)
our wood can be had only at a price.(H)
5 Those who pursue us are at our heels;
we are weary(I) and find no rest.(J)
6 We submitted to Egypt and Assyria(K)
to get enough bread.
7 Our ancestors(L) sinned and are no more,
and we bear their punishment.(M)
8 Slaves(N) rule over us,
and there is no one to free us from their hands.(O)
9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives
because of the sword in the desert.
10 Our skin is hot as an oven,
feverish from hunger.(P)
11 Women have been violated(Q) in Zion,
and virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 Princes have been hung up by their hands;
elders(R) are shown no respect.(S)
13 Young men toil at the millstones;
boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 The elders are gone from the city gate;
the young men have stopped their music.(T)
15 Joy is gone from our hearts;
our dancing has turned to mourning.(U)
16 The crown(V) has fallen from our head.(W)
Woe to us, for we have sinned!(X)
17 Because of this our hearts(Y) are faint,(Z)
because of these things our eyes(AA) grow dim(AB)
18 for Mount Zion,(AC) which lies desolate,(AD)
with jackals prowling over it.
19 You, Lord, reign forever;(AE)
your throne endures(AF) from generation to generation.
20 Why do you always forget us?(AG)
Why do you forsake(AH) us so long?
21 Restore(AI) us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;
renew our days as of old
22 unless you have utterly rejected us(AJ)
and are angry with us beyond measure.(AK)
Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
Good News Translation (GNT) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.