1 ¶ Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us: look, and see our disgrace.

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

3 We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are like widows.

4 We have to buy the water we drink; and pay for our wood.

5 Our pursuers are on our necks like a yoke: we work, and have no rest.

6 We have given our hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to get enough food.

7 Our fathers have sinned, and are gone; and we bear the consequences of their wrongdoing.

8 Slaves rule us: and there is no one who can deliver us out of their hand.

9 We get our food at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the wilderness.

10 Our skin is hot like an oven because of the fever of famine.

11 They raped the women in Zion, and the girls in the cities of Judah.

12 Princes are hung up by their hands: the elders are shown no respect.

13 They took the young men to grind at the mill, and children stagger under loads of wood.

14 The elders have stopped meeting at the gate, and the young men no longer play their music.

15 Joy has left our hearts; and our dancing has turned into mourning.

16 The crown has fallen from our head: woe to us, for we have sinned!

17 ¶ Because of this our heart is sick; because of these things our eyes grow dim.

18 Because mount Zion lies in ruins, foxes walk around on it.

19 But you, O LORD, remain for ever; your throne from generation to generation.

20 Why should you forget us forever, and forsake us for so long a time?

21 Turn us back to you, O LORD, and we will return; renew our days as of old.

22 Or have you completely rejected us; you have been angry with us so long.