Lamentations 5:9-19

9 We get our bread at the 1risk of our lives Because * of the sword in the wilderness.
10 Our skin has become as 2hot as an oven, Because * of the burning heat of famine.
11 They ravished the 3women in Zion, The virgins in the cities of Judah.
12 Princes were hung by their hands; 4Elders were not respected.
13 Young men 5worked at the grinding mill, And youths 6stumbled under loads of wood.
14 Elders are gone from the gate, Young men from their 7music.
15 The joy of our hearts has 8ceased; Our dancing has been turned into mourning.
16 The 9crown has fallen from our head; 10Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 Because of this our 11heart is faint, Because of these things our 12eyes are dim;
18 Because of 13Mount Zion which lies desolate, 14Foxes prowl in it.
19 15You, O LORD, rule forever; Your 16throne is from generation to generation.

Lamentations 5:9-19 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.

Cross References 16

  • 1. Jeremiah 40:9-12
  • 2. Job 30:30; Lamentations 4:8
  • 3. Isaiah 13:16; Zechariah 14:2
  • 4. Isaiah 47:6; Lamentations 4:16
  • 5. Judges 16:21
  • 6. Jeremiah 7:18
  • 7. Isaiah 24:8; Jeremiah 7:34
  • 8. Jeremiah 25:10; Amos 8:10
  • 9. Job 19:9; Psalms 89:39; Jeremiah 13:18
  • 10. Isaiah 3:9-11
  • 11. Isaiah 1:5
  • 12. Job 17:7; Lamentations 2:11
  • 13. Micah 3:12
  • 14. Nehemiah 4:3
  • 15. Ps 102:12, 25-27
  • 16. Psalms 45:6

Footnotes 7

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