A Prayer for Mercy and Restoration

1Remember, O Jehovah, what hath befallen us, Look attentively, and see our reproach.

2Our inheritance hath been turned to strangers, Our houses to foreigners.

3Orphans we have been -- without a father, our mothers are as widows.

4Our water for money we have drunk, Our wood for a price doth come.

5For our neck we have been pursued, We have laboured -- there hath been no rest for us.

6To Egypt we have given a hand, To Asshur, to be satisfied with bread.

7Our fathers have sinned -- they are not, We their iniquities have borne.

8Servants have ruled over us, A deliverer there is none from their hand.

9With our lives we bring in our bread, Because of the sword of the wilderness.

10Our skin as an oven hath been burning, Because of the raging of the famine.

11Wives in Zion they have humbled, Virgins -- in cities of Judah.

12Princes by their hand have been hanged, The faces of elders have not been honoured.

13Young men to grind they have taken, And youths with wood have stumbled.

14The aged from the gate have ceased, Young men from their song.

15Ceased hath the joy of our heart, Turned to mourning hath been our dancing.

16Fallen hath the crown from our head, Woe is now to us, for we have sinned.

17For this hath our heart been sick, For these have our eyes been dim.

18For the mount of Zion -- that is desolate, Foxes have gone up on it.

19Thou, O Jehovah, to the age remainest, Thy throne to generation and generation.

20Why for ever dost Thou forget us? Thou forsakest us for length of days!

21Turn us back, O Jehovah, unto Thee, And we turn back, renew our days as of old.

22For hast Thou utterly rejected us? Thou hast been wroth against us -- exceedingly?