CHAPTER 5
1Recall, O LORD, what befell us,
look and see our disgrace—
2our estate turned over to strangers,
our homes to foreigners.
3Orphans we were without fathers,
our mothers like widows.
4Our water we drank for silver,
our wood came at a price.
5Up to our necks we were pursued,
we wearied, we got no rest.
6To Egypt we put out our hand,
to Assyria, to be sated with bread.
7Our fathers offended and are no more,
it was we bore the weight of their crimes.
8Slaves ruled over us,
none broke us free from their hand.
9At the cost of our lives we got bread
10Our skin burned hot as a kiln
from the raging fever of famine.
11Women they ravaged in Zion,
virgins in Judah’s towns.
12Nobles were impaled by them,
elders they did not honor.
13Young men carried millstones,
and lads stumbled with loads of wood.
14Elders were no more in the gates,
nor young men at their songs.
15Our heart’s joy is no more,
our dance has turned to mourning.
16The crown of our head has fallen.
Woe to us, for we have offended.
17For this our heart is anguished,
for these our eyes go dark.
18On Mount Zion that is desolate
foxes go about.
19But You, O LORD, for all time are enthroned,
Your throne for all generations!
20Why should You forget us forever,
forsake us for endless years?
21Bring us back to You, LORD, that we come back,
renew our days as of old.
22For indeed You have rejected us,
You have been grievously furious with us.