Lamentations 5:9-19

9 We risk our lives to gather food in the bandit-infested desert.

10 Our skin has turned black as an oven, dried out like old leather from the famine.

11 Our wives were raped in the streets in Zion, and our virgins in the cities of Judah.

12 They hanged our princes by their hands, dishonored our elders.

13 Strapping young men were put to women's work, mere boys forced to do men's work.

14 The city gate is empty of wise elders. Music from the young is heard no more.

15 All the joy is gone from our hearts. Our dances have turned into dirges.

16 The crown of glory has toppled from our head. Woe! Woe! Would that we'd never sinned!

17 Because of all this we're heartsick; we can't see through the tears.

18 On Mount Zion, wrecked and ruined, jackals pace and prowl.

19 And yet, God, you're sovereign still, your throne intact and eternal.

Lamentations 5:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS 5

In this chapter are reckoned up the various calamities and distresses of the Jews in Babylon, which the Lord is desired to remember and consider, La 5:1-16; their great concern for the desolation of the temple in particular is expressed, La 5:17,18; and the chapter is concluded with a prayer that God would show favour to them, and turn them to him, and renew their prosperity as of old, though he had rejected them, and been wroth with them, La 5:19-22.