5 Remember, Lord, what happened to us.
    Look and see our shame.
² Our land has been turned over to strangers.
    Our houses have been given to foreigners.
³ We have become orphans.
    We have no father.
    Our mothers have become like widows.
⁴ We have to buy the water that we drink.
    We have to pay for the wood that we use.
⁵ We are forced to wear a yoke on our necks.
    We get tired, and we have no rest.
⁶ We made an agreement with Egypt.
    We also made an agreement with Assyria to get enough bread.
⁷ Our ancestors sinned against you, and now they are dead.
    And we are suffering because of their sins.
⁸ Slaves have become our rulers.
    No one can save us from them.
⁹ We risk our lives to get food.
    There are men in the desert with swords.
¹⁰ Our skin is hot like an oven.
    We have a high fever because of our hunger.
¹¹ The enemy raped the women of Zion.
    They raped the women in the cities of Judah.
¹² The enemy hanged our princes.
    They didn’t honor our elders.
¹³ The enemy made our young men grind grain at the mill.
    Our young men stumbled under loads of wood.
¹⁴ The elders no longer sit at the gates of the city.
    The young men no longer make music.
¹⁵ We have no more joy in our hearts.
    Our dancing has changed to crying for the dead.
¹⁶ The crown has fallen from our head.
    Things have gone bad for us because we sinned.
¹⁷ For this reason, our hearts have become sick,
    and our eyes cannot see clearly.
¹⁸ Mount Zion is a wasteland.
    Foxes run around on Mount Zion.
¹⁹ But you rule forever, Lord.
    Your kingly chair lasts forever and ever.
²⁰ You seem to have forgotten us forever.
    You seem to have left us alone for such a long time.
²¹ Bring us back to you, Lord.
    We will gladly come back to you.
    Make our lives as they were before.
²² You were very angry with us.
    Have you completely rejected us?