1 R emember, O Lord, what has befallen us; Look, and see our reproach!

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

2 O ur inheritance has been turned over to strangers, Our houses to aliens.

Our inheritance has fallen over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.

3 W e have become orphans without a father, Our mothers are like widows.

We have become orphans and fatherless; our mothers are like widows.

4 W e have to pay for our drinking water, Our wood comes to us at a price.

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

5 O ur pursuers are at our necks; We are worn out, there is no rest for us.

Our pursuers are upon our necks; we are weary and are allowed no rest.

6 W e have submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.

We 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; It is we who have borne their iniquities.

Our fathers sinned and are no more, and we have borne their iniquities.

8 S laves rule over us; There is no one to deliver us from their hand.

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

9 W e get our bread at the risk of our lives Because of the sword in the wilderness.

We get our bread at the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.

10 O ur skin has become as hot as an oven, Because of the burning heat of famine.

Our 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.

They ravished the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah.

12 P rinces were hung by their hands; Elders were not respected.

They hung princes by their hands; the persons of elders were not respected.

13 Y oung men worked at the grinding mill, And youths stumbled under loads of wood.

Young men carried millstones, and boys fell under wood.

14 E lders are gone from the gate, Young men from their music.

The elders have ceased from the city’s gate, the young men from their music.

15 T he joy of our hearts has ceased; Our dancing has been turned into mourning.

Ceased 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!

The crown has fallen from our head! Woe to us, for we have sinned!

17 B ecause of this our heart is faint, Because of these things our eyes are dim;

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

18 B ecause of Mount Zion which lies desolate, Foxes prowl in it.

As for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, the jackals prowl over it!

19 Y ou, O Lord, rule forever; Your throne is from generation to generation.

But 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?

Why do You forget us forever? Why do You forsake us so long?

21 R estore us to You, O Lord, that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old,

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

22 U nless You have utterly rejected us And are exceedingly angry with us.

Or have You utterly rejected us? Or are You exceedingly angry with us ?