Lamentations 5:14-22

14 The elders have left the city gate, the young men, their music.
15 Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head.[a] Woe to us, for we have sinned.[b]
17 Because of this, our heart is sick; because of these, our eyes grow dim:[c]
18 because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate [and has] jackals prowling in it.[d]
19 You, Lord, are enthroned forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation.[e]
20 Why have You forgotten us forever,[f] abandoned us for [our] entire lives?
21 Lord, restore us to Yourself, so we may return;[g] renew our days as in former times,
22 unless You have completely rejected us and are intensely angry with us.

Lamentations 5:14-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS 5

In this chapter are reckoned up the various calamities and distresses of the Jews in Babylon, which the Lord is desired to remember and consider, La 5:1-16; their great concern for the desolation of the temple in particular is expressed, La 5:17,18; and the chapter is concluded with a prayer that God would show favour to them, and turn them to him, and renew their prosperity as of old, though he had rejected them, and been wroth with them, La 5:19-22.

Footnotes 7

Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.