New International Version NIV
New Century Version NCV
1 Remember, LORD, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace.
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Remember, Lord, what happened to us. Look and see our disgrace.
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
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Our land has been turned over to strangers; our houses have been given to foreigners.
3 We have become fatherless, our mothers are widows.
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We are like orphans with no father; our mothers are like 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 buy the water we drink; we must pay for the firewood.
5 Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are weary and find no rest.
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Those who chase after us want to catch us by the neck. We are tired and find no rest.
6 We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.
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We made an agreement with Egypt and with Assyria to get enough food.
7 Our ancestors sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment.
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Our ancestors sinned against you, but they are gone; now we suffer because of their sins.
8 Slaves rule over us, and there is no one to free us from their hands.
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Slaves have become our rulers, and no one can save us from them.
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 get our food; we face death in the desert.
10 Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger.
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Our skin is hot like an oven; we burn with starvation.
11 Women have been violated in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah.
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The enemy abused the women of Jerusalem and the girls in the cities of Judah.
12 Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect.
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Princes were hung by the hands; they did not respect our older leaders.
13 Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.
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The young men ground grain at the mill, and boys stumbled under loads of wood.
14 The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.
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The older leaders no longer sit at the city gates; the young men no longer sing.
15 Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
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We have no more joy in our hearts; our dancing has turned to sadness.
16 The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
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The crown has fallen from our head. How terrible it is because we sinned.
17 Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim
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Because of this we are afraid, and now our eyes are dim.
18 for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.
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Mount Zion is empty, and wild dogs wander around it.
19 You, LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
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But you rule forever, Lord. You will be King from now on.
20 Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long?
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Why have you forgotten us for so long? Have you left us forever?
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, Lord, and we will return. Make our days as they were before,
22 unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.
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or have you completely rejected us? Are you so 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.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.