RESTORE US, LORD

Passage: Lamentations 5:1-22

Key verse: 21

NIV

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

19 You, Lord, reign forever;(AE)
    your throne endures(AF) from generation to generation.
20 Why do you always forget us?(AG)
    Why do you forsake(AH) us so long?
21 Restore(AI) us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;
    renew our days as of old
22 unless you have utterly rejected us(AJ)
    and are angry with us beyond measure.(AK)

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ESV

Restore Us to Yourself, O Lord

5 (A)Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us;
    look, and see (B)our disgrace!
2 (C)Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
    our homes to foreigners.
3 We have become orphans, fatherless;
    our mothers are like widows.
4 We must pay for the water we drink;
    the wood we get must be bought.
5 (D)Our pursuers are at our necks;
    we are weary; we are given no rest.
6 We have given the hand to (E)Egypt, and to (F)Assyria,
    to get bread enough.
7 Our fathers sinned, and are no more;
    (G)and we bear their iniquities.
8 (H)Slaves rule over us;
    there is none to deliver us from their hand.
9 (I)We get our bread at the peril of our lives,
    because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 (J)Our skin is hot as an oven
    with (K)the burning heat of famine.
11 Women are raped in Zion,
    young women in the towns of Judah.
12 (L)Princes are hung up by their hands;
    (M)no respect is shown to the elders.
13 Young men are compelled to (N)grind at the mill,
    and boys stagger (O)under loads of wood.
14 (P)The old men have left the city gate,
    the young men (Q)their music.
15 (R)The joy of our hearts has ceased;
    (S)our dancing has been turned to mourning.
16 (T)The crown has fallen from our head;
    woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 For this (U)our heart has become sick,
    for these things (V)our eyes have grown dim,
18 for Mount Zion which lies desolate;
    (W)jackals prowl over it.
19 (X)But you, O Lord, reign forever;
    your throne endures to all generations.
20 (Y)Why do you forget us forever,
    why do you forsake us for so many days?
21 (Z)Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored!
    Renew our days as of old—
22 (AA)unless you have utterly rejected us,
    and you remain exceedingly angry with us.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. See our disgrace (1-18) Chapter 5 is unique in that it is not acrostic. But it contains 22 verses like chapters 1, 2 and 4 and has some similar themes. The author calls on the LORD to remember what has happened to his people. The Promised Land had been given over to strangers. There were many fatherless children and widows. They were pursued on every side. Water, wood and bread were very difficult to obtain. Their women had been raped, their princes hung up and their elders disrespected. Singing and dancing had stopped. He laments their sin which had brought this calamity. 2. The LORD reigns forever (19-22) After asking the LORD to remember the suffering of the people, the author prays for restoration. God had not lost control. The LORD is eternal and reigns forever. He rules over every generation. God had not forgotten them. The author prays that the LORD would restore the people to himself. He prays to return to God and that the days of blessing would be renewed.

Prayer: Lord, please do not forget us nor forsake us. Please forgive us and restore us to yourself.

One Word: Restore us to yourself, Lord!