New International Version NIV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Remember, LORD, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace.
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Remember, O LORD, what has befallen us; behold, 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 given the hand to Egypt, and to Assyria, to get bread enough.
7 Our ancestors sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment.
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Our fathers sinned, and 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 none 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 hot as an oven with the burning heat of famine.
11 Women have been violated in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah.
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Women are ravished 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 at the mill; 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 quit 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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For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes have grown dim,
18 for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.
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for 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 thou, O LORD, dost reign for ever; thy throne endures to all generations.
20 Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long?
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Why dost thou forget us for ever, why dost thou so long forsake us?
21 Restore us to yourself, LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old
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Restore us to thyself, 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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Or hast thou utterly rejected us? Art thou exceedingly 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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.