Lamentations 5 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Remember, Yahweh, what has happened to us. Look — really look — at our disgrace.

Our inheritance has been handed over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.

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

We have to pay money for our own water; our own wood comes to us at a price.

Those who pursue us are right at our necks; we are exhausted but given no rest.

We reached out to Egypt; we reached out to Assyria — just to get enough bread.

Our ancestors failed, and they are gone; we are left carrying the weight of their corruption.

Slaves rule over us; there is no one to free us from their hands.

We risk our lives just to get our bread, facing the sword in the wilderness.

Our skin burns like an oven from the fever of starvation.

They violated women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.

Leaders were hung up by their hands; elders were shown no respect.

Young men were forced to grind at the millstone; boys staggered under loads of wood.

The elders have vanished from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.

Joy has vanished from our hearts; our dancing has turned into mourning.

The crown has fallen from our head. How terrible for us — because we have failed.

Because of all this our hearts are sick; because of all this our eyes have gone dim—

because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.

But you, Yahweh — you sit enthroned forever; your throne endures from one generation to the next.

Why do you keep forgetting us? Why have you abandoned us for so long?

Bring us back to you, Yahweh, and we will come back. Renew our days — make them like they were before.

Unless you have completely rejected us — unless your anger against us knows no limit.