1: "Remember, GOD, all we've been through. Study our plight, the black mark we've made in history.
2: Our precious land has been given to outsiders, our homes to strangers.
3: Orphans we are, not a father in sight, and our mothers no better than widows.
4: We have to pay to drink our own water. Even our firewood comes at a price.
5: We're nothing but slaves, bullied and bowed, worn out and without any rest.
6: We sold ourselves to Assyria and Egypt just to get something to eat.
7: Our parents sinned and are no more, and now we're paying for the wrongs they did.
8: Slaves rule over us; there's no escape from their grip.
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.
20: So why do you keep forgetting us? Why dump us and leave us like this?
21: Bring us back to you, GOD-we're ready to come back. Give us a fresh start.
22: As it is, you've cruelly disowned us. You've been so very angry with us."