Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
1 Remember, O LORD, what has befallen us; behold, and see our disgrace!
1
Remember, LORD, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace.
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to aliens.
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Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows.
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We have become fatherless, our mothers are widows.
4 We must pay for the water we drink, the wood we get must be bought.
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We must buy the water we drink; our wood can be had only at a price.
5 With a yoke on our necks we are hard driven; we are weary, we are given no rest.
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Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are weary and find no rest.
6 We have given the hand to Egypt, and to Assyria, to get bread enough.
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We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.
7 Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bear their iniquities.
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Our ancestors sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment.
8 Slaves rule over us; there is none to deliver us from their hand.
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Slaves rule over us, and there is no one to free us from their hands.
9 We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness.
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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 as an oven with the burning heat of famine.
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Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger.
11 Women are ravished in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.
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Women have been violated in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 Princes are hung up by their hands; no respect is shown to the elders.
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Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect.
13 Young men are compelled to grind at the mill; and boys stagger under loads of wood.
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Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 The old men have quit the city gate, the young men their music.
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The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.
15 The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning.
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Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!
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The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim,
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Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim
18 for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.
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for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.
19 But thou, O LORD, dost reign for ever; thy throne endures to all generations.
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You, LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
20 Why dost thou forget us for ever, why dost thou so long forsake us?
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Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long?
21 Restore us to thyself, O LORD, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old!
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Restore us to yourself, LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old
22 Or hast thou utterly rejected us? Art thou exceedingly angry with us?
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unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 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.