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
Lamentations 5
English Standard Version
Restore Us to Yourself, O Lord
5 (A)Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us;
look, and see (B)our disgrace!
2 (C)Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
our homes to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans, fatherless;
our mothers are like widows.
4 We must pay for the water we drink;
the wood we get must be bought.
5 (D)Our pursuers are at our necks;
we are weary; we are given no rest.
6 We have given the hand to (E)Egypt, and to (F)Assyria,
to get bread enough.
7 Our fathers sinned, and are no more;
(G)and we bear their iniquities.
8 (H)Slaves rule over us;
there is none to deliver us from their hand.
9 (I)We get our bread at the peril of our lives,
because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 (J)Our skin is hot as an oven
with (K)the burning heat of famine.
11 Women are raped in Zion,
young women in the towns of Judah.
12 (L)Princes are hung up by their hands;
(M)no respect is shown to the elders.
13 Young men are compelled to (N)grind at the mill,
and boys stagger (O)under loads of wood.
14 (P)The old men have left the city gate,
the young men (Q)their music.
15 (R)The joy of our hearts has ceased;
(S)our dancing has been turned to mourning.
16 (T)The crown has fallen from our head;
woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 For this (U)our heart has become sick,
for these things (V)our eyes have grown dim,
18 for Mount Zion which lies desolate;
(W)jackals prowl over it.
19 (X)But you, O Lord, reign forever;
your throne endures to all generations.
20 (Y)Why do you forget us forever,
why do you forsake us for so many days?
21 (Z)Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored!
Renew our days as of old—
22 (AA)unless you have utterly rejected us,
and you remain exceedingly angry with us.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
