Lamentations 5:17-22

17 For this ¹our heart has become sick, for these things ²our eyes have grown dim,

18 for Mount Zion which lies desolate; ³jackals prowl over it.

19 ⁴But you, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.

20 ⁵Why do you forget us forever, why do you forsake us for so many days?

21 ⁶Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old--

22 ⁷unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us.

Lamentations 5:17-22 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.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 1:5
• 2. See Lamentations 2:11
• 3. [Isaiah 34:13]
• 4. Psalms 9:7; Psalms 102:12; Psalms 145:13
• 5. Psalms 13:1
• 6. Jeremiah 31:18; [Ps. 80:3, 7, 19]
• 7. Jeremiah 14:19