Lamentations 5
Geneva Study Bible
Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.
Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: {a} consider, and behold our reproach.

(a) This prayer as is thought, was made when some of the people were carried away captive, others such as the poorest remained, and some went into Egypt and other places for comfort, though it seems that the prophet foreseeing their miseries to come, thus prayed.

Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.
Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.
We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.
We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.
We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.
We have drank our {b} water for money; our wood is sold to us.

(b) Meaning their extreme servitude and bondage.

Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.
Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.
We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
We have given the {c} hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.

(c) We are joined in league and amity with them, or have submitted ourselves to them.

Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.
Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne {d} their iniquities.

(d) As our fathers have been punished for their sins: so we that are guilty of the same sins are punished.

Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand.
Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand.
We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.
We procured our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword {e} of the wilderness.

(e) Because of the enemy that came from the wilderness and would not suffer us to go and seek our necessary food.

Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.
Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.
They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.
They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.
Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured.
Princes were hung up by {f} their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured.

(f) That is, by the enemies hand.

They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood.
They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under {g} the wood.

(g) Their slavery was so great, that they were not able to abide it.

The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick.
The elders have ceased from the {h} gate, the young men from their music.

(h) There were no more laws nor form of commonwealth.

The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.
The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.
The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!
The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!
For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.
For this our heart is faint; for these things our {i} eyes are dim.

(i) With weeping.

Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.
Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.
Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.
Thou, O LORD, remainest for {k} ever; thy throne from generation to generation.

(k) And therefore your covenant and mercies can never fail.

Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?
Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?
Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.
{l} Turn thou us to thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

(l) By which is declared that it is not in man's power to turn to God, but is only his work to convert us, and thus God works in us before we can turn to him, Jer 31:18.

But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.
But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.
The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599]

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