1"Remember, God, all we've been through. Study our plight, the black mark we've made in history.
2Our precious land has been given to outsiders, our homes to strangers.
3Orphans we are, not a father in sight, and our mothers no better than widows.
4We have to pay to drink our own water. Even our firewood comes at a price.
5We're nothing but slaves, bullied and bowed, worn out and without any rest.
6We sold ourselves to Assyria and Egypt just to get something to eat.
7Our parents sinned and are no more, and now we're paying for the wrongs they did.
8Slaves rule over us; there's no escape from their grip.
9We risk our lives to gather food in the bandit-infested desert.
10Our skin has turned black as an oven, dried out like old leather from the famine.
11Our wives were raped in the streets in Zion, and our virgins in the cities of Judah.
12They hanged our princes by their hands, dishonored our elders.
13Strapping young men were put to women's work, mere boys forced to do men's work.
14The city gate is empty of wise elders. Music from the young is heard no more.
15All the joy is gone from our hearts. Our dances have turned into dirges.
16The crown of glory has toppled from our head. Woe! Woe! Would that we'd never sinned!
17Because of all this we're heartsick; we can't see through the tears.
18On Mount Zion, wrecked and ruined, jackals pace and prowl.
19And yet, God, you're sovereign still, your throne intact and eternal.
20So why do you keep forgetting us? Why dump us and leave us like this?
21Bring us back to you, God—we're ready to come back. Give us a fresh start.
22As it is, you've cruelly disowned us. You've been so very angry with us."