1 O Lord, remember what has come upon us! Look down and see our reproach (our national disgrace)!

2 O ur inheritance has fallen over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.

3 W e have become orphans and fatherless; our mothers are like widows.

4 W e have had to pay money to drink the water that belongs to us; our wood is sold to us.

5 O ur pursuers are upon our necks; we are weary and are allowed no rest.

6 W e have given the hand to the Egyptians and to the Assyrians to get food to satisfy.

7 O ur fathers sinned and are no more, and we have borne their iniquities.

8 S ervants and slaves rule over us; there is none to deliver us out of their hands.

9 W e get our bread at the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.

10 O ur skin glows and is parched as from an oven because of the burning heat of famine.

11 T hey ravished the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah.

12 T hey hung princes by their hands; the persons of elders were not respected.

13 Y oung men carried millstones, and boys fell under wood.

14 T he elders have ceased from the city’s gate, the young men from their music.

15 C eased is the joy of our hearts; our dancing has turned into mourning.

16 T he crown has fallen from our head! Woe to us, for we have sinned!

17 B ecause of this our hearts are faint and sick; because of these things our eyes are dim and see darkly.

18 A s for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, the jackals prowl over it!

19 B ut You, O Lord, remain and reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generations.

20 W hy do You forget us forever? Why do You forsake us so long?

21 T urn us to Yourself, O Lord, and we shall be turned and restored! Renew our days as of old!—

22 O r have You utterly rejected us? Or are You exceedingly angry with us ?