Lamentations 5

1 Remember, O Lord, what has happened to us. Look at us, and see our disgrace.

2 Our property is in the hands of strangers; foreigners are living in our homes.

3 Our fathers have been killed by the enemy, and now our mothers are widows.

4 We must pay for the water we drink; we must buy the wood we need for fuel.

5 Driven hard like donkeys or camels, we are tired, but are allowed no rest.

6 To get food enough to stay alive, we went begging to Egypt and Assyria.

7 Our ancestors sinned, but now they are gone, and we are suffering for their sins.

8 Our rulers are no better than slaves, and no one can save us from their power.

9 Murderers roam through the countryside; we risk our lives when we look for food.

10 Hunger has made us burn with fever until our skin is as hot as an oven.

11 Our wives have been raped on Mount Zion itself; in every Judean village our daughters have been forced to submit.

12 Our leaders have been taken and hanged; our elders are shown no respect.

13 Our young men are forced to grind grain like slaves; boys go staggering under heavy loads of wood.

14 The old people no longer sit at the city gate, and the young people no longer make music.

15 Happiness has gone out of our lives; grief has taken the place of our dances.

16 Nothing is left of all we were proud of. We sinned, and now we are doomed.

17 We are sick at our very hearts and can hardly see through our tears,

18 because Mount Zion lies lonely and deserted, and wild jackals prowl through its ruins.

19 But you, O Lord, are king forever and will rule to the end of time.

20 Why have you abandoned us so long? Will you ever remember us again?

21 Bring us back to you, Lord! Bring us back! Restore our ancient glory.

22 Or have you rejected us forever? Is there no limit to your anger?

Lamentations 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

The Jewish nation supplicating the Divine favour.

Verses 1-16 Is any afflicted? Let him pray; and let him in prayer pour out his complaint to God. The people of God do so here; they complain not of evils feared, but of evils felt. If penitent and patient under what we suffer for the sins of our fathers, we may expect that He who punishes, will return in mercy to us. They acknowledge, Woe unto us that we have sinned! All our woes are owing to our own sin and folly. Though our sins and God's just displeasure cause our sufferings, we may hope in his pardoning mercy, his sanctifying grace, and his kind providence. But the sins of a man's whole life will be punished with vengeance at last, unless he obtains an interest in Him who bare our sins in his own body on the tree.

Verses 17-22 The people of God express deep concern for the ruins of the temple, more than for any other of their calamities. But whatever changes there are on earth, God is still the same, and remains for ever wise and holy, just and good; with Him there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. They earnestly pray to God for mercy and grace; Turn us to thee, O Lord. God never leaves any till they first leave him; if he turns them to him in a way of duty, no doubt he will quickly return to them in a way of mercy. If God by his grace renew our hearts, he will by his favour renew our days. Troubles may cause our hearts to be faint, and our eyes to be dim, but the way to the mercy-seat of our reconciled God is open. Let us, in all our trials, put our whole trust and confidence in his mercy; let us confess our sins, and pour out our hearts before him. Let us watch against repinings and despondency; for we surely know, that it shall be well in the end with all that trust in, fear, love, and serve the Lord. Are not the Lord's judgments in the earth the same as in Jeremiah's days? Let Zion then be remembered by us in our prayers, and her welfare be sought above every earthly joy. Spare, Lord, spare thy people, and give not thine heritage to reproach, for the heathen to rule over them.

Chapter Summary

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.