Lamentations 5:1-6

Prayer for Restoration

1 Yahweh, remember what has happened to us. Look, and see our disgrace!^[a]

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^[b] Egypt and with Assyria, to get enough food.

Lamentations 5:1-6 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

• [a]. Ps 74:18,22; 89:50-51
• [b]. Lit We gave the hand to