Lamentations 5

The people’s complaint

1 LORD, consider what has become of us; take notice of our disgrace. Look at it!

2 Our property has been turned over to strangers; our houses belong to foreigners.

3 We have become orphans, having no father; our mothers are like widows.

4 We drink our own water—but for a price; we gather our own wood—but pay for it.

5 Our hunters have been at our necks; we are worn out, but have no rest.

6 We held out a hand to Egypt and to Assyria, to get sufficient food.

7 Our fathers have sinned and are gone, but we are burdened with their iniquities.

8 Slaves rule over us; there is no one to rescue us from their power.

9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the desert heat.

10 Our skin is as hot as an oven because of the burning heat of famine.

11 Women have been raped in Zion, young women in Judah's cities.

12 Officials have been hung up by their hands; elders have been shown no respect.

13 Young men have carried grinding stones; boys have stumbled under loads of wood.

14 Elders have left the city gate; young people stop their music.

15 Joy has left our heart; our dancing has changed into lamentation.

16 The crown has fallen off our head. We are doomed because we have sinned.

17 Because of all this our heart is sick; because of these things our glance is dark.

18 Mount Zion, now deserted— only jackals walk on it now!

19 But you, LORD, will rule forever; your throne lasts from one generation to the next.

20 Why do you forget us continually; why do you abandon us for such a long time?

21 Return us, LORD, to yourself. Please let us return! Give us new days, like those long ago—

22 unless you have completely rejected us, or have become too angry with us.

Lamentations 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

The Jewish nation supplicating the Divine favour.

Verses 1-16 Is any afflicted? Let him pray; and let him in prayer pour out his complaint to God. The people of God do so here; they complain not of evils feared, but of evils felt. If penitent and patient under what we suffer for the sins of our fathers, we may expect that He who punishes, will return in mercy to us. They acknowledge, Woe unto us that we have sinned! All our woes are owing to our own sin and folly. Though our sins and God's just displeasure cause our sufferings, we may hope in his pardoning mercy, his sanctifying grace, and his kind providence. But the sins of a man's whole life will be punished with vengeance at last, unless he obtains an interest in Him who bare our sins in his own body on the tree.

Verses 17-22 The people of God express deep concern for the ruins of the temple, more than for any other of their calamities. But whatever changes there are on earth, God is still the same, and remains for ever wise and holy, just and good; with Him there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. They earnestly pray to God for mercy and grace; Turn us to thee, O Lord. God never leaves any till they first leave him; if he turns them to him in a way of duty, no doubt he will quickly return to them in a way of mercy. If God by his grace renew our hearts, he will by his favour renew our days. Troubles may cause our hearts to be faint, and our eyes to be dim, but the way to the mercy-seat of our reconciled God is open. Let us, in all our trials, put our whole trust and confidence in his mercy; let us confess our sins, and pour out our hearts before him. Let us watch against repinings and despondency; for we surely know, that it shall be well in the end with all that trust in, fear, love, and serve the Lord. Are not the Lord's judgments in the earth the same as in Jeremiah's days? Let Zion then be remembered by us in our prayers, and her welfare be sought above every earthly joy. Spare, Lord, spare thy people, and give not thine heritage to reproach, for the heathen to rule over them.

Footnotes

• [a]. Heb uncertain
• [b]. Or sword; Heb uncertain
• [c]. Or and we will return or so that we can return
• [d]. Or But instead you have completely rejected us, become too angry with us, or Because if you have completely rejected us, have become too angry with us.

Chapter Summary

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.