1.
Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.
The acrostic gives way before the outburst of emotion in prayer. The only connection with it is the number of the verses (twenty-two, corresponding with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet).
2.
Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.
inheritance: i.e. Canaan.
3.
We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.
4.
We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.
5.
Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.
Our necks are under persecution = Our pursuers are upon our necks.
persecution = pursuers.
and. Some codices, with two early printed editions and Syriac, read this "and" in the text.
have no rest = no respite was granted us.
6.
We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
given the hand. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Adjunct), App-6 , for voluntary submission.
7.
Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.
borne. As a burden. The same word as in Isaiah 53:4 , Isaiah 53:11 .
iniquities. Hebrew. avah. App-44 .
8.
Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand.
9.
We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.
We gat our bread = We brought home our bread.
lives = souls. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "souls".
sword of the wilderness. "The sword" is put, by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the raids and fightings of the inhabitants of the wilderness.
10.
Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.
11.
They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.
women = wives.
12.
Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured.
faces. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for the whole person.
13.
They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood.
to grind: i.e. to do women's work.
children = young children, youths.
fell = staggered.
under the wood: i.e. under [the weight or load] of the wood (they were compelled as bond-slaves to carry).
14.
The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick.
15.
The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.
16.
The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!
17.
For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.
this: ie.
this sin.
these things: i.e. loss of king, country, possessions, and liberties.
18.
Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.
foxes = jackals.
19.
Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.
remainest = sittest: i.e. as king.
20.
Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?
dost = wilt.
21.
Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.
Turn Thou us. National repentance was the one abiding condition of national blessing, and this must be Jehovah's own work.
unto Thee = unto Thyself.
22.
But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.
art = hast been.
In the public reading of the Hebrew text Lamentations 5:21 is repeated after Lamentations 5:22 , so that the book may end with comfort. The same is the case with Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, and Malachi. The synagogue use appoints this book to be read on the Fast of Ab, which commemorates the destruction of Jerusalem.