1 Remember, Lord, what happened to us.Look and see our disgrace.
2 Our land has been turned over to strangers.Our houses have been given to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans with no father.Our mothers have become like widows.
4 We have to buy the water we drink.We must pay for the wood for our fires.
5 They work us hard as if we were animals with a yoke on our necks.We get tired and have no rest.
6 We made an agreement with Egyptand with Assyria to get enough food.
7 Our ancestors sinned against you. But they are gone.Now we must suffer because of their sins.
8 Slaves have become our rulers.There is no one who can save us from them.
9 We risk our lives to get our foodbecause there are men with swords in the desert.
10 Our skin is hot like an oven.We burn with fever because of the terrible hunger.
11 The enemy raped the women of Jerusalemand the girls in the cities of Judah.
12 The enemy hung our princes by the hands.They do not honor our elders.
13 The young men grind grain at the mill.Boys stumble while carrying loads of wood.
14 The elders no longer sit at the city gates.The young men no longer make music.
15 We have no more joy in our hearts.Our dancing has turned into sadness.
16 The glory has gone from Jerusalem.How terrible it is for us because we have sinned.
17 Because of this we are afraid.Because of these things our eyes are dim.
18 Mount Zion is empty.Now wild dogs wander around it.
19 But you rule forever, Lord.You will be King from now on.
20 Why have you forgotten us for so long?Why have you left us for so long?
21 Bring us back to you, Lord. We will return.Make our days as they were before.