New International Version NIV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Remember, LORD, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace.
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Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us; look, and see our disgrace!
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
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Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to aliens.
3 We have become fatherless, our mothers are widows.
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We have become orphans, fatherless; 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 must pay for the water we drink; the wood we get must be bought.
5 Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are weary and find no rest.
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With a yoke on our necks we are hard driven; we are weary, we are given no rest.
6 We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.
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We have made a pact with Egypt and Assyria, to get enough bread.
7 Our ancestors sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment.
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Our ancestors sinned; they are no more, and we bear their iniquities.
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 is no one to deliver us from their hand.
9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the desert.
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We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger.
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Our skin is black as an oven from the scorching heat of famine.
11 Women have been violated in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah.
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Women are raped in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect.
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Princes are hung up by their hands; no respect is shown to the elders.
13 Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.
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Young men are compelled to grind, and boys stagger 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 old men have left the city gate, the young men their music.
15 Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
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The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning.
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; woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim
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Because of this our hearts are sick, because of these things our eyes have grown dim:
18 for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.
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because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.
19 You, LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
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But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.
20 Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long?
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Why have you forgotten us completely? Why have you forsaken us these many days?
21 Restore us to yourself, LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old
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Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored; renew our days as of old—
22 unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.
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unless you have utterly rejected us, and are angry with us beyond measure.
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.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.