New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 Remember, Lord, what happened to us. Look and see our disgrace.
1
Remember, LORD, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace.
2 Our land has been turned over to strangers; our houses have been given to foreigners.
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Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
3 We are like orphans with no father; our mothers are like widows.
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We have become fatherless, our mothers are widows.
4 We have to buy the water we drink; we must pay for the firewood.
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We must buy the water we drink; our wood can be had only at a price.
5 Those who chase after us want to catch us by the neck. We are tired and find no rest.
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Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are weary and find no rest.
6 We made an agreement with Egypt and with Assyria to get enough food.
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We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.
7 Our ancestors sinned against you, but they are gone; now we suffer because of their sins.
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Our ancestors sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment.
8 Slaves have become our rulers, and no one can save us from them.
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Slaves rule over us, and there is no one to free us from their hands.
9 We risk our lives to get our food; we face death in the desert.
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We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the desert.
10 Our skin is hot like an oven; we burn with starvation.
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Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger.
11 The enemy abused the women of Jerusalem and the girls in the cities of Judah.
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Women have been violated in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 Princes were hung by the hands; they did not respect our older leaders.
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Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect.
13 The young men ground grain at the mill, and boys stumbled under loads of wood.
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Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 The older leaders no longer sit at the city gates; the young men no longer sing.
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The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.
15 We have no more joy in our hearts; our dancing has turned to sadness.
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Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head. How terrible it is because we sinned.
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The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 Because of this we are afraid, and now our eyes are dim.
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Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim
18 Mount Zion is empty, and wild dogs wander around it.
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for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.
19 But you rule forever, Lord. You will be King from now on.
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You, LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
20 Why have you forgotten us for so long? Have you left us forever?
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Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long?
21 Bring us back to you, Lord, and we will return. Make our days as they were before,
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Restore us to yourself, LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old
22 or have you completely rejected us? Are you so angry with us?
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unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.