1 ¶ Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us; look, and behold our reproach.
Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us; Look, and see our reproach!
2 O ur inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.
Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, Our houses to aliens.
3 W e are orphans without father; our mothers are as widows.
We have become orphans without a father, Our mothers are like widows.
4 W e have drunk our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.
We have to pay for our drinking water, Our wood comes to us at a price.
5 O ur necks are under persecution; we are become tired and have no rest.
Our pursuers are at our necks; We are worn out, there is no rest for us.
6 W e have given the hand to the Egyptians and to the Assyrians to be satisfied with bread.
We have submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.
7 O ur fathers have sinned and are dead; and we have borne their chastisements.
Our fathers sinned, and are no more; It is we who have borne their iniquities.
8 S laves have ruled over us: there was no one to deliver us out of their hand.
Slaves rule over us; There is no one to deliver us from their hand.
9 W e got our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.
We get our bread at the risk of our lives Because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 O ur skin became black like an oven because of the terrible famine.
Our skin has become as hot as an oven, Because of the burning heat of famine.
11 T hey ravished the women in Zion and the virgins in the cities of Judah.
They ravished the women in Zion, The virgins in the cities of Judah.
12 P rinces were hanged up by their hand; the countenance of the elders was not honoured.
Princes were hung by their hands; Elders were not respected.
13 T hey took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood.
Young men worked at the grinding mill, And youths stumbled under loads of wood.
14 T he elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their music.
Elders are gone from the gate, Young men from their music.
15 T he joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.
The joy of our hearts has ceased; Our dancing has been turned into mourning.
16 T he crown is fallen from our head; woe now unto us, for we have sinned!
The crown has fallen from our head; Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 ¶ For this our heart is saddened; for these things our eyes are become dim.
Because of this our heart is faint, Because of these things our eyes are dim;
18 B ecause of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.
Because of Mount Zion which lies desolate, Foxes prowl in it.
19 T hou, O LORD, shall remain for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.
You, O Lord, rule forever; Your throne is from generation to generation.
20 W hy should thou forget us for ever and forsake us for such a long time?
Why do You forget us forever? Why do You forsake us so long?
21 T urn us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as at the beginning.
Restore us to You, O Lord, that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old,
22 F or in stepping back thou hast rejected us; thou hast become very angry against us.
Unless You have utterly rejected us And are exceedingly angry with us.