Lamentations 5:7-17

7 Our ancestors sinned. Now they are gone, [but] we have to take the punishment for their wickedness.

8 Slaves rule us. There is no one to rescue us from them.

9 To get our food, we have to risk our lives in the heat of the desert.

10 Our skin is as hot as an oven from the burning heat of starvation.

11 Women in Zion are raped, so are the girls in the cities of Judah.

12 [Our] leaders are hung by their hands. [Our] older leaders are shown no respect.

13 [Our] young men work at the mill, and [our] boys stagger under loads of wood.

14 [Our] older leaders have stopped meeting at the city gate, and [our] young men no longer play their music.

15 There is no joy left in our hearts. Our dancing has turned into mourning.

16 The crown has fallen from our head. Because we have sinned, it has been disastrous for us.

17 This is why we feel sick. This is why our eyes see less and less.

Lamentations 5:7-17 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.