New International Version NIV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Remember, LORD, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace.
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"Remember, God, all we've been through. Study our plight, the black mark we've made in history.
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
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Our precious land has been given to outsiders, our homes to strangers.
3 We have become fatherless, our mothers are widows.
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Orphans we are, not a father in sight, and our mothers no better than widows.
4 We must buy the water we drink; our wood can be had only at a price.
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We have to pay to drink our own water. Even our firewood comes at a price.
5 Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are weary and find no rest.
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We're nothing but slaves, bullied and bowed, worn out and without any rest.
6 We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.
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We sold ourselves to Assyria and Egypt just to get something to eat.
7 Our ancestors sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment.
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Our parents sinned and are no more, and now we're paying for the wrongs they did.
8 Slaves rule over us, and there is no one to free us from their hands.
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Slaves rule over us; there's no escape from their grip.
9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the desert.
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We risk our lives to gather food in the bandit-infested desert.
10 Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger.
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Our skin has turned black as an oven, dried out like old leather from the famine.
11 Women have been violated in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah.
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Our wives were raped in the streets in Zion, and our virgins in the cities of Judah.
12 Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect.
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They hanged our princes by their hands, dishonored our elders.
13 Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.
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Strapping young men were put to women's work, mere boys forced to do men's work.
14 The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.
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The city gate is empty of wise elders. Music from the young is heard no more.
15 Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
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All the joy is gone from our hearts. Our dances have turned into dirges.
16 The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
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The crown of glory has toppled from our head. Woe! Woe! Would that we'd never sinned!
17 Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim
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Because of all this we're heartsick; we can't see through the tears.
18 for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.
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On Mount Zion, wrecked and ruined, jackals pace and prowl.
19 You, LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
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And yet, God, you're sovereign still, your throne intact and eternal.
20 Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long?
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So why do you keep forgetting us? Why dump us and leave us like this?
21 Restore us to yourself, LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old
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Bring us back to you, God - we're ready to come back. Give us a fresh start.
22 unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.
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As it is, you've cruelly disowned us. You've been so very angry with us."
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.