Lamentaciones 5

1 Recuerda, SEÑOR, lo que nos ha sucedido;toma en cuenta nuestro oprobio.

2 Nuestra heredad ha caído en manos extrañas;nuestro hogar, en manos de extranjeros.

3 No tenemos padre, hemos quedado huérfanos;viudas han quedado nuestras madres.

4 El agua que bebemos, tenemos que pagarla;la leña, tenemos que comprarla.

5 Los que nos persiguen nos pisan los talones;^[a]estamos fatigados y no hallamos descanso.

6 Entramos en tratos^[b] con Egipto y con Asiriapara conseguir alimentos.

7 Nuestros padres pecaron y murieron,pero a nosotros nos tocó el castigo.

8 Ahora nos gobiernan los esclavos,y no hay quien nos libre de sus manos.

9 Exponiéndonos a los peligros^[c] del desierto,nos jugamos la vida para obtener alimentos.

10 La piel nos arde como un horno;¡de hambre nos da fiebre!

11 En Sión y en los pueblos de Judáfueron violadas casadas y solteras.

12 A nuestros jefes los colgaron de las manos,y ni siquiera respetaron a nuestros ancianos.

13 A nuestros mejores jóvenes los pusieron a moler;los niños tropezaban bajo el peso de la leña.

14 Ya no se sientan los ancianosa las puertas de la ciudad;no se escucha ya la música de los jóvenes.

15 En nuestro corazón ya no hay gozo;la alegría de nuestras danzas se convirtió en tristeza.

16 Nuestra cabeza se ha quedado sin corona.¡Ay de nosotros; hemos pecado!

17 Desfallece nuestro corazón;se apagan nuestros ojos,

18 porque el monte Sión se halla desolado,y sobre él rondan los chacales.

19 Pero tú, SEÑOR, reinas por siempre;tu trono permanece eternamente.

20 ¿Por qué siempre nos olvidas?¿Por qué nos abandonas tanto tiempo?

21 Permítenos volver a ti, SEÑOR, y volveremos;devuélvenos la gloria de antaño.^[d]

22 La verdad es que nos has rechazadoy te has excedido en tu enojo contra nosotros.

Lamentaciones 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]. "Los que " "… " "los talones" . Lit. "Sobre nuestro cuello nos persiguen" .
• [b]. "Entramos en tratos" . Lit. "Dimos la mano" .
• [c]. "Exponiéndonos a los peligros" . Lit. "Por causa de la espada" .
• [d]. "devuélvenos " "… " "antaño" . Lit. "renueva nuestros días como antes" .

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.