Bible Gateway passage: Lamentations 4:17-5:22 - New International Version (2025)

¹⁷Moreover, our eyes failed,
looking in vain^(A) for help;^(B)
from our towers we watched
for a nation^(C) that could not save us.

¹⁸People stalked us at every step,
so we could not walk in our streets.
Our end was near, our days were numbered,
for our end had come.^(D)

¹⁹Our pursuers were swifter
than eagles^(E) in the sky;
they chased us^(F) over the mountains
and lay in wait for us in the desert.^(G)

²⁰The Lord’s anointed,^(H) our very life breath,
was caught in their traps.^(I)
We thought that under his shadow^(J)
we would live among the nations.

²¹Rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom,
you who live in the land of Uz.^(K)
But to you also the cup^(L) will be passed;
you will be drunk and stripped naked.^(M)

²²Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion;^(N)
he will not prolong your exile.
But he will punish your sin, Daughter Edom,
and expose your wickedness.^(O)

5Remember, Lord, what has happened to us;
look, and see our disgrace.^(P)
2Our inheritance^(Q) has been turned over to strangers,^(R)
our homes^(S) to foreigners.^(T)
3We have become fatherless,
our mothers are widows.^(U)
4We must buy the water we drink;^(V)
our wood can be had only at a price.^(W)
5Those who pursue us are at our heels;
we are weary^(X) and find no rest.^(Y)
6We submitted to Egypt and Assyria^(Z)
to get enough bread.
⁷Our ancestors^(AA) sinned and are no more,
and we bear their punishment.^(AB)
8Slaves^(AC) rule over us,
and there is no one to free us from their hands.^(AD)
9We get our bread at the risk of our lives
because of the sword in the desert.
¹⁰Our skin is hot as an oven,
feverish from hunger.^(AE)
11Women have been violated^(AF) in Zion,
and virgins in the towns of Judah.
¹²Princes have been hung up by their hands;
elders^(AG) are shown no respect.^(AH)
13Young men toil at the millstones;
boys stagger under loads of wood.
¹⁴The elders are gone from the city gate;
the young men have stopped their music.^(AI)
15Joy is gone from our hearts;
our dancing has turned to mourning.^(AJ)
16The crown^(AK) has fallen from our head.^(AL)
Woe to us, for we have sinned!^(AM)
17Because of this our hearts^(AN) are faint,^(AO)
because of these things our eyes^(AP) grow dim^(AQ)
18for Mount Zion,^(AR) which lies desolate,^(AS)
with jackals prowling over it.

¹⁹You, Lord, reign forever;^(AT)
your throne endures^(AU) from generation to generation.
²⁰Why do you always forget us?^(AV)
Why do you forsake^(AW) us so long?
²¹Restore^(AX) us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;
renew our days as of old
²²unless you have utterly rejected us^(AY)
and are angry with us beyond measure.^(AZ)

Cross references

1. Lamentations 4:17 : S Ge 15:18; S Isa 20:5; Eze 29:16
2. Lamentations 4:17 : S La 1:7
3. Lamentations 4:17 : Jer 37:7
4. Lamentations 4:18 : Eze 7:2-12; Am 8:2
5. Lamentations 4:19 : S Dt 28:49
6. Lamentations 4:19 : S Lev 26:36; Isa 5:26-28
7. Lamentations 4:19 : Jer 52:7
8. Lamentations 4:20 : S 1Sa 26:9; 2Sa 19:21
9. Lamentations 4:20 : Jer 39:5; Eze 12:12-13; 19:4, 8
10. Lamentations 4:20 : S Ps 91:1
11. Lamentations 4:21 : S Ge 10:23
12. Lamentations 4:21 : S Ps 16:5; S Jer 25:15
13. Lamentations 4:21 : Isa 34:6-10; S 63:6; Eze 35:15; Am 1:11-12; Ob 1:16; Hab 2:16
14. Lamentations 4:22 : Isa 40:2; Jer 33:8
15. Lamentations 4:22 : S Ps 137:7; Eze 25:12-14; Mal 1:4
16. Lamentations 5:1 : Ps 44:13-16; 89:50
17. Lamentations 5:2 : Ps 79:1
18. Lamentations 5:2 : S Ps 109:11
19. Lamentations 5:2 : Zep 1:13
20. Lamentations 5:2 : Jer 17:4
21. Lamentations 5:3 : S Ex 22:24; Jer 15:8; S 18:21
22. Lamentations 5:4 : S Isa 55:1; Eze 4:16-17
23. Lamentations 5:4 : Isa 3:1
24. Lamentations 5:5 : S Ne 9:37; Isa 47:6
25. Lamentations 5:5 : S Jos 1:13
26. Lamentations 5:6 : Jer 2:36; Hos 5:13; 7:11; 9:3
27. Lamentations 5:7 : S Jer 31:29
28. Lamentations 5:7 : Jer 14:20; 16:12
29. Lamentations 5:8 : Ne 5:15
30. Lamentations 5:8 : Zec 11:6
31. Lamentations 5:10 : S Job 30:30; S La 4:8-9
32. Lamentations 5:11 : S Ge 34:29; Zec 14:2
33. Lamentations 5:12 : S Lev 19:32
34. Lamentations 5:12 : S La 2:6; 4:16
35. Lamentations 5:14 : S Isa 24:8; Jer 7:34
36. Lamentations 5:15 : S Jer 25:10; Am 8:10
37. Lamentations 5:16 : Ps 89:39; S Jer 13:18
38. Lamentations 5:16 : S Job 19:9
39. Lamentations 5:16 : S Isa 3:11; Jer 14:20
40. Lamentations 5:17 : S Isa 1:5
41. Lamentations 5:17 : S Jer 8:18
42. Lamentations 5:17 : Ps 6:7
43. Lamentations 5:17 : S Job 16:8
44. Lamentations 5:18 : Ps 74:2-3
45. Lamentations 5:18 : S Isa 27:10; Mic 3:12
46. Lamentations 5:19 : S 1Ch 16:31
47. Lamentations 5:19 : S Ps 45:6; 102:12, 24-27
48. Lamentations 5:20 : S Ps 13:1; 44:24
49. Lamentations 5:20 : S Ps 71:11
50. Lamentations 5:21 : S Ps 80:3; Isa 60:20-22
51. Lamentations 5:22 : S Ps 53:5; 60:1-2; S Jer 6:30
52. Lamentations 5:22 : S Isa 64:9