1 Remember, O Lord, what is come vpon vs: consider, and behold our reproche. 2 Our inheritance is turned to the strangers, our houses to the aliants. 3 We are fatherles, euen without father, and our mothers are as widowes. 4 Wee haue drunke our water for money, and our wood is solde vnto vs. 5 Our neckes are vnder persecution: we are wearie, and haue no rest. 6 We haue giuen our handes to the Egyptians, and to Asshur, to be satisfied with bread. 7 Our fathers haue sinned, and are not, and we haue borne their iniquities. 8 Seruants haue ruled ouer vs, none would deliuer vs out of their hands. 9 Wee gate our bread with the perill of our liues, because of the sword of the wildernesse. 10 Our skinne was blacke like as an ouen because of the terrible famine. 11 They defiled the women in Zion, and the maydes in the cities of Iudah. 12 The princes are hanged vp by their hande: the faces of the elders were not had in honour. 13 They tooke the yong men to grinde, and the children fell vnder the wood. 14 The Elders haue ceased from the gate and the yong men from their songs. 15 The ioy of our heart is gone, our daunce is turned into mourning. 16 The crowne of our head is fallen: wo nowe vnto vs, that we haue sinned. 17 Therefore our heart is heauy for these things, our eyes are dimme, 18 Because of the mountaine of Zion which is desolate: the foxes runne vpon it. 19 But thou, O Lord, remainest for euer: thy throne is from generation to generation. 20 Wherefore doest thou forget vs for euer, and forsake vs so long time? 21 Turne thou vs vnto thee, O Lord, and we shalbe turned: renue our dayes as of olde. 22 But thou hast vtterly reiected vs: thou art exceedingly angry against vs.
A Prayer for Mercy
1 Remember, O Lord, what has happened to us.
Look at us, and see our disgrace.
2 Our property is in the hands of strangers;
foreigners are living in our homes.
3 Our fathers have been killed by the enemy,
and now our mothers are widows.
4 We must pay for the water we drink;
we must buy the wood we need for fuel.
5 Driven hard like donkeys or camels,
we are tired, but are allowed no rest.
6 To get food enough to stay alive,
we went begging to Egypt and Assyria.
7 Our ancestors sinned, but now they are gone,
and we are suffering for their sins.
8 Our rulers are no better than slaves,
and no one can save us from their power.
9 Murderers roam through the countryside;
we risk our lives when we look for food.
10 Hunger has made us burn with fever
until our skin is as hot as an oven.
11 Our wives have been raped on Mount Zion itself;
in every Judean village our daughters have been forced to submit.
12 Our leaders have been taken and hanged;
our elders are shown no respect.
13 Our young men are forced to grind grain like slaves;
boys go staggering under heavy loads of wood.
14 The old people no longer sit at the city gate,
and the young people no longer make music.
15 Happiness has gone out of our lives;
grief has taken the place of our dances.
16 Nothing is left of all we were proud of.
We sinned, and now we are doomed.
17 We are sick at our very hearts
and can hardly see through our tears,
18 because Mount Zion lies lonely and deserted,
and wild jackals prowl through its ruins.
19 But you, O Lord, are king forever
and will rule to the end of time.
20 Why have you abandoned us so long?
Will you ever remember us again?
21 Bring us back to you, Lord! Bring us back!
Restore our ancient glory.
22 Or have you rejected us forever?
Is there no limit to your anger?