New Century Version NCV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Remember, Lord, what happened to us. Look and see our disgrace.
1
Remember, O Lord, what has happened to us. Look at us, and see our disgrace.
2 Our land has been turned over to strangers; our houses have been given to foreigners.
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Our property is in the hands of strangers; foreigners are living in our homes.
3 We are like orphans with no father; our mothers are like widows.
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Our fathers have been killed by the enemy, and now our mothers are widows.
4 We have to buy the water we drink; we must pay for the firewood.
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We must pay for the water we drink; we must buy the wood we need for fuel.
5 Those who chase after us want to catch us by the neck. We are tired and find no rest.
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Driven hard like donkeys or camels, we are tired, but are allowed no rest.
6 We made an agreement with Egypt and with Assyria to get enough food.
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To get food enough to stay alive, we went begging to Egypt and Assyria.
7 Our ancestors sinned against you, but they are gone; now we suffer because of their sins.
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Our ancestors sinned, but now they are gone, and we are suffering for their sins.
8 Slaves have become our rulers, and no one can save us from them.
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Our rulers are no better than slaves, and no one can save us from their power.
9 We risk our lives to get our food; we face death in the desert.
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Murderers roam through the countryside; we risk our lives when we look for food.
10 Our skin is hot like an oven; we burn with starvation.
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Hunger has made us burn with fever until our skin is as hot as an oven.
11 The enemy abused the women of Jerusalem and the girls in the cities of Judah.
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Our wives have been raped on Mount Zion itself; in every Judean village our daughters have been forced to submit.
12 Princes were hung by the hands; they did not respect our older leaders.
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Our leaders have been taken and hanged; our elders are shown no respect.
13 The young men ground grain at the mill, and boys stumbled under loads of wood.
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Our young men are forced to grind grain like slaves; boys go staggering under heavy loads of wood.
14 The older leaders no longer sit at the city gates; the young men no longer sing.
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The old people no longer sit at the city gate, and the young people no longer make music.
15 We have no more joy in our hearts; our dancing has turned to sadness.
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Happiness has gone out of our lives; grief has taken the place of our dances.
16 The crown has fallen from our head. How terrible it is because we sinned.
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Nothing is left of all we were proud of. We sinned, and now we are doomed.
17 Because of this we are afraid, and now our eyes are dim.
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We are sick at our very hearts and can hardly see through our tears,
18 Mount Zion is empty, and wild dogs wander around it.
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because Mount Zion lies lonely and deserted, and wild jackals prowl through its ruins.
19 But you rule forever, Lord. You will be King from now on.
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But you, O Lord, are king forever and will rule to the end of time.
20 Why have you forgotten us for so long? Have you left us forever?
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Why have you abandoned us so long? Will you ever remember us again?
21 Bring us back to you, Lord, and we will return. Make our days as they were before,
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Bring us back to you, Lord! Bring us back! Restore our ancient glory.
22 or have you completely rejected us? Are you so angry with us?
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Or have you rejected us forever? Is there no limit to your anger?
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.