O Yahweh, Remember Us!

¹Remember, O Yahweh, what has happened to us;

Look, and see our reproach!

²Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,

Our houses to foreigners.

³We have become orphans without a father;

Our mothers are like widows.

⁴We drink our water by means of silver;

Our wood comes to us at a price.

⁵Our pursuers are at our necks;[#5:5 Lit We have been pursued upon]

We are worn out; there is no rest for us.

⁶We have given over our hands to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.[#5:6 Lit hand; #5:6 Lit to be satisfied with]

⁷Our fathers sinned; they are no more;

It is we who have borne their iniquities.

⁸Slaves rule over us;

There is no one to tear us away from their hand.

⁹We get our bread at the risk of our lives[#5:9 Lit with our soul]

Because of the sword in the wilderness.

¹⁰Our skin has become as hot as an oven

Because of the burning heat of famine.

¹¹They violated the women in Zion,

The virgins in the cities of Judah.

¹²Princes were hung by their hands;

Elders were not respected.

¹³Young men lifted up the stone at the grinding mill,

And youths stumbled down under loads of wood.

¹⁴Elders have ceased from being at the gate,

Young men from their music.

¹⁵The joy of our hearts has ceased;

Our dancing has been turned into mourning.

¹⁶The crown has fallen from our head;

Woe to us, for we have sinned!

¹⁷Because of this our heart is faint;

Because of these things our eyes are dim;

¹⁸Because of Mount Zion which lies desolate,

Foxes walk about in it.

¹⁹¶You, O Yahweh, sit enthroned forever;

Your throne is from generation to generation.

²⁰Why do You forget us forever?

Why do You forsake us so long?

²¹Cause us to return to You, O Yahweh, that we may be returned;

Renew our days as of old,

²²Even if You have utterly rejected us

And are exceedingly angry with us.