Lamentations 5:5-22

Lamentations 5:1-22 The Message (MSG)

“Remember, GOD, all we’ve been through. Study our plight, the black mark we’ve made in history. Our precious land has been given to outsiders, our homes to strangers. Orphans we are, not a father in sight, and our mothers no better than widows. We have to pay to drink our own water. Even our firewood comes at a price. We’re nothing but slaves, bullied and bowed, worn out and without any rest. We sold ourselves to Assyria and Egypt just to get something to eat. Our parents sinned and are no more, and now we’re paying for the wrongs they did. Slaves rule over us; there’s no escape from their grip. We risk our lives to gather food in the bandit-infested desert. Our skin has turned black as an oven, dried out like old leather from the famine. Our wives were raped in the streets in Zion, and our virgins in the cities of Judah. They hanged our princes by their hands, dishonored our elders. Strapping young men were put to women’s work, mere boys forced to do men’s work. The city gate is empty of wise elders. Music from the young is heard no more. All the joy is gone from our hearts. Our dances have turned into dirges. The crown of glory has toppled from our head. Woe! Woe! Would that we’d never sinned! Because of all this we’re heartsick; we can’t see through the tears. On Mount Zion, wrecked and ruined, jackals pace and prowl. And yet, GOD, you’re sovereign still, your throne intact and eternal. So why do you keep forgetting us? Why dump us and leave us like this? Bring us back to you, GOD—we’re ready to come back. Give us a fresh start. As it is, you’ve cruelly disowned us. You’ve been so very angry with us.”

Lamentations 5:5-22 King James Version (KJV)

Our necks are under persecution: We labour, and have no rest. We have given the hand to the Egyptians, And to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread. Our fathers have sinned, and are not; And we have borne their iniquities. Servants have ruled over us: There is none that doth deliver us out of their hand. We gat our bread with the peril of our lives Because of the sword of the wilderness. Our skin was black like an oven Because of the terrible famine. They ravished the women in Zion, And the maids in the cities of Judah. Princes are hanged up by their hand: The faces of elders were not honoured. They took the young men to grind, And the children fell under the wood. The elders have ceased from the gate, The young men from their musick. The joy of our heart is ceased; Our dance is turned into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head: Woe unto us, that we have sinned! For this our heart is faint; For these things our eyes are dim. Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, The foxes walk upon it. Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; Thy throne from generation to generation. Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, And forsake us so long time? Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; Renew our days as of old. But thou hast utterly rejected us; Thou art very wroth against us.

Lamentations 5:5-22 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)

Our pursuers are at our necks; We are worn out, there is no rest for us. We have submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread. Our fathers sinned, and are no more; It is we who have borne their iniquities. Slaves rule over us; There is no one to deliver us from their hand. We get our bread at the risk of our lives Because of the sword in the wilderness. Our skin has become as hot as an oven, Because of the burning heat of famine. They ravished the women in Zion, The virgins in the cities of Judah. Princes were hung by their hands; Elders were not respected. Young men worked at the grinding mill, And youths stumbled under loads of wood. Elders are gone from the gate, Young men from their music. The joy of our hearts has ceased; Our dancing has been turned into mourning. The crown has fallen from our head; Woe to us, for we have sinned! Because of this our heart is faint, Because of these things our eyes are dim; Because of Mount Zion which lies desolate, Foxes prowl in it. You, O LORD, rule forever; Your throne is from generation to generation. Why do You forget us forever? Why do You forsake us so long? Restore us to You, O LORD, that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old, Unless You have utterly rejected us And are exceedingly angry with us.

Lamentations 5:5-22 New Century Version (NCV)

Those who chase after us want to catch us by the neck. We are tired and find no rest. We made an agreement with Egypt and with Assyria to get enough food. Our ancestors sinned against you, but they are gone; now we suffer because of their sins. Slaves have become our rulers, and no one can save us from them. We risk our lives to get our food; we face death in the desert. Our skin is hot like an oven; we burn with starvation. The enemy abused the women of Jerusalem and the girls in the cities of Judah. Princes were hung by the hands; they did not respect our elders. The young men ground grain at the mill, and boys stumbled under loads of wood. The elders no longer sit at the city gates; the young men no longer sing. We have no more joy in our hearts; our dancing has turned to sadness. The crown has fallen from our head. How terrible it is because we sinned. Because of this we are afraid, and now our eyes are dim. Mount Zion is empty, and wild dogs wander around it. But you rule forever, LORD. You will be King from now on. Why have you forgotten us for so long? Have you left us forever? Bring us back to you, LORD, and we will return. Make our days as they were before, or have you completely rejected us? Are you so angry with us?

Lamentations 5:5-22 American Standard Version (ASV)

Our pursuers are upon our necks: We are weary, and have no rest. We have given the hand to the Egyptians, And to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread. Our fathers sinned, and are not; And we have borne their iniquities. Servants rule over us: There is none to deliver us out of their hand. We get our bread at the peril of our lives, Because of the sword of the wilderness. Our skin is black like an oven, Because of the burning heat of famine. They ravished the women in Zion, The virgins in the cities of Judah. Princes were hanged up by their hand: The faces of elders were not honored. The young men bare the mill; And the children stumbled under the wood. The elders have ceased from the gate, The young men from their music. The joy of our heart is ceased; Our dance is turned into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head: Woe unto us! for we have sinned. For this our heart is faint; For these things our eyes are dim; For the mountain of Zion, which is desolate: The foxes walk upon it. Thou, O Jehovah, abidest for ever; Thy throne is from generation to generation. Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, And forsake us so long time? Turn thou us unto thee, O Jehovah, and we shall be turned; Renew our days as of old. But thou hast utterly rejected us; Thou art very wroth against us.

Lamentations 5:5-22 New International Version (NIV)

Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are weary and find no rest. We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread. Our ancestors sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment. Slaves rule over us, and there is no one to free us from their hands. We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the desert. Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger. Women have been violated in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah. Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect. Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood. The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music. Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning. The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it. You, LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation. Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long? Restore us to yourself, LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.

Lamentations 5:5-22 New King James Version (NKJV)

They pursue at our heels; We labor and have no rest. We have given our hand to the Egyptians And the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread. Our fathers sinned and are no more, But we bear their iniquities. Servants rule over us; There is none to deliver us from their hand. We get our bread at the risk of our lives, Because of the sword in the wilderness. Our skin is hot as an oven, Because of the fever of famine. They ravished the women in Zion, The maidens in the cities of Judah. Princes were hung up by their hands, And elders were not respected. Young men ground at the millstones; Boys staggered under loads of wood. The elders have ceased gathering at the gate, And the young men from their music. The joy of our heart has ceased; Our dance has turned into mourning. The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! Because of this our heart is faint; Because of these things our eyes grow dim; Because of Mount Zion which is desolate, With foxes walking about on it. You, O LORD, remain forever; Your throne from generation to generation. Why do You forget us forever, And forsake us for so long a time? Turn us back to You, O LORD, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old, Unless You have utterly rejected us, And are very angry with us!

Lamentations 5:5-22 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Our pursuers are at our necks; We are worn out, there is no rest for us. We have given the hand [as a pledge of fidelity and submission] to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread. Our fathers sinned, and are no more; It is we who have carried their sin. [Is 65:7; Jer 16:11, 12; 31:29; Ezek 18:2-4] Servants rule over us; There is no one to rescue us out of their hand. [Neh 5:15] We get our bread at the risk of our lives Because of the sword [of the Arabs] in the wilderness [who may attack if we go out to harvest the crop]. Our skin is as hot as [the heat of] an oven Because of the burning heat of [the fever of] famine. They ravished the women in Zion, The virgins in the cities of Judah. Princes were hung by their hands; Elders were not respected. Young men worked at the grinding mill, And boys fell [staggering] under loads of wood. Elders are gone from the gate; Young men from their music. The joy of our hearts has ended; Our dancing has been turned into mourning. The crown has fallen from our head [our honor is covered with dust]! Woe to us, for we have sinned! Because of this our heart is faint, Because of these things our eyes are dim. As for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, Foxes and the jackals prowl over it. ¶But You, O LORD, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to [all] generations. Why do You forget us forever? Why do You forsake us so long? Return us to You, O LORD, so that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old, Unless You have utterly rejected us And are exceedingly angry with us.

Lamentations 5:5-22 New Living Translation (NLT)

Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are exhausted but are given no rest. We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough food to survive. Our ancestors sinned, but they have died— and we are suffering the punishment they deserved! Slaves have now become our masters; there is no one left to rescue us. We hunt for food at the risk of our lives, for violence rules the countryside. The famine has blackened our skin as though baked in an oven. Our enemies rape the women in Jerusalem and the young girls in all the towns of Judah. Our princes are being hanged by their thumbs, and our elders are treated with contempt. Young men are led away to work at millstones, and boys stagger under heavy loads of wood. The elders no longer sit in the city gates; the young men no longer dance and sing. Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning. The garlands have fallen from our heads. Weep for us because we have sinned. Our hearts are sick and weary, and our eyes grow dim with tears. For Jerusalem is empty and desolate, a place haunted by jackals. But LORD, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation. Why do you continue to forget us? Why have you abandoned us for so long? Restore us, O LORD, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had! Or have you utterly rejected us? Are you angry with us still?

Lamentations 5:5-22 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)

Our pursuers are at our necks; we are weary; we are given no rest. We have given the hand to Egypt, and to Assyria, to get bread enough. Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bear their iniquities. Slaves rule over us; there is none to deliver us from their hand. We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness. Our skin is hot as an oven with the burning heat of famine. Women are raped in Zion, young women in the towns of Judah. Princes are hung up by their hands; no respect is shown to the elders. Young men are compelled to grind at the mill, and boys stagger under loads of wood. The old men have left the city gate, the young men their music. The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning. The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned! For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim, for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it. But you, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations. Why do you forget us forever, why do you forsake us for so many days? Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old— unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us.