[1] Remember, O LORD, what has come upon us; Look, and behold our reproach! [2] Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens, And our houses to foreigners. [3] We have become orphans and waifs, Our mothers are like widows. [4] We pay for the water we drink, And our wood comes at a price. [5] They pursue at our heels; We labor and have no rest. [6] We have given our hand to the Egyptians And the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread. [7] Our fathers sinned and are no more, But we bear their iniquities. [8] Servants rule over us; There is none to deliver us from their hand. [9] We get our bread at the risk of our lives, Because of the sword in the wilderness. [10] Our skin is hot as an oven, Because of the fever of famine. [11] They ravished the women in Zion, The maidens in the cities of Judah. [12] Princes were hung up by their hands, And elders were not respected. [13] Young men ground at the millstones; Boys staggered under loads of wood. [14] The elders have ceased gathering at the gate, And the young men from their music. [15] The joy of our heart has ceased; Our dance has turned into mourning. [16] The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! [17] Because of this our heart is faint; Because of these things our eyes grow dim; [18] Because of Mount Zion which is desolate, With foxes walking about on it. [19] You, O LORD, remain forever; Your throne from generation to generation. [20] Why do You forget us forever, And forsake us for so long a time? [21] Turn us back to You, O LORD, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old, [22] Unless You have utterly rejected us, And are very angry with us!
