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¹ Lord, remember what has happened to us.² Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
our houses to foreigners.³ We have become orphans, fatherless;
our mothers are widows.⁴ We must pay for the water we drink;
our wood comes at a price.⁵ We are closely pursued;
we are tired, and no one offers us rest.⁶ We made a treaty with^(F1) Egypt
and with Assyria, to get enough food.^(C1)7 Our fathers sinned; they no longer exist,
but we bear their punishment.⁸ Slaves rule over us;^(C1)
no one rescues us from them.⁹ We secure our food at the risk of our lives
because of the sword in the wilderness.¹⁰ Our skin is as hot^(F1) as an oven^(C1)
from the ravages of hunger.¹¹ Women have been raped in Zion,
virgins in the cities of Judah.¹² Princes have been hung up by their hands;
elders are shown no respect.^(C1)13 Young men labor at millstones;^(C1)
boys stumble under loads of wood.¹⁴ The elders have left the city gate,
the young men, their music.^(C1)15 Joy has left our hearts;^(C1)
our dancing has turned to mourning.¹⁶ The crown has fallen from our head.^(C1)
Woe to us, for we have sinned.^(C2)17 Because of this, our heart is sick;
because of these, our eyes grow dim:^(C1)18 because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate
and has jackals prowling in it.^(C1)19 You, Lord, are enthroned forever;
your throne endures from generation to generation.^(C1)20 Why do you continually forget us,^(C1)
abandon us for our entire lives?²¹ Lord, bring us back to yourself, so we may return;^(C1)
renew our days as in former times,²² unless you have completely rejected us
and are intensely angry with us.