1 O Lord, remember what has happened to us. Look, and see our shame!

2 T he land we received from You has been given over to strangers. Our homes have been given to people from other lands.

3 W e have lost our fathers. Our mothers are like those who have lost their husbands.

4 W e have to pay for our drinking water, and we must buy our wood.

5 T hose who come after us are at our necks. We are tired and cannot rest.

6 W e have put out our hands to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.

7 O ur fathers sinned, and are no more, and we have suffered for their sins.

8 S ervants rule over us. There is no one to save us from their hand.

9 W e put our lives in danger to get our bread, because of the sword in the desert.

10 O ur skin has become as hot as fire because of the burning heat of hunger.

11 T hey have taken and sinned against the women in Zion, and the young women who have never had a man in the cities of Judah.

12 R ulers were hung by their hands. Leaders were not respected.

13 Y oung men worked to grind the grain, and boys fell under loads of wood.

14 T he old men have left the city gate. Young men have stopped playing their music.

15 T he joy of our hearts has come to an end. Our dancing has been turned into sorrow.

16 T he crown has fallen from our head. It is bad for us, for we have sinned!

17 B ecause of this our heart is weak. Because of these things our eyes are weak.

18 M ount Zion lies in waste, so foxes run all over it.

19 O Lord, You rule forever. Your throne will last for all people-to-come.

20 W hy do You forget us forever? Why do You leave us alone for so long?

21 R eturn us to You, O Lord. Bring us back. Make our days as they were before.

22 O r have You turned away from us forever? Is there no end to Your anger?