A Prayer for Restoration 1 Brenton Remember, O Lord, what has happened to us: behold, and look on our reproach. BSB BSB: Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us. Look and see our disgrace!
2 Brenton Our inheritance has been turned away to aliens, our houses to strangers: BSB BSB: Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.
3 Brenton we are become orphans, we have no father, our mothers are as widows. BSB BSB: We have become fatherless orphans; our mothers are widows.
4 Brenton We have drunk our water for money; our wood is sold to us for a burden on our neck: BSB BSB: We must buy the water we drink; our wood comes at a price.
5 Brenton we have been persecuted, we have laboured, we have had no rest. BSB BSB: We are closely pursued; we are weary and find no rest.
6 Brenton Egypt gave the hand to us , Assur to their own satisfaction. BSB BSB: We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.
7 Brenton Our fathers sinned, and are not: we have borne their iniquities. BSB BSB: Our fathers sinned and are no more, but we bear their punishment.
8 Brenton Servants have ruled over us: there is none to ransom us out of their hand. BSB BSB: Slaves rule over us; there is no one to deliver us from their hands.
9 Brenton We shall bring in our bread with danger of our lives, because of the sword of the wilderness. BSB BSB: We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 Brenton Our skin is blackened like an oven; they are convulsed, because of the storms of famine. BSB BSB: Our skin is as hot as an oven with fever from our hunger.
11 Brenton They humbled the women in Sion, the virgins in the cities of Juda. BSB BSB: Women have been ravished in Zion, virgins in the cities of Judah.
12 Brenton Princes were hanged up by their hands: the elders were not honoured. BSB BSB: Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders receive no respect.
13 Brenton The chosen men lifted up the voice in weeping, and the youths fainted under the wood. BSB BSB: Young men toil at millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 Brenton And the elders ceased from the gate, the chosen men ceased from their music. BSB BSB: The elders have left the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.
15 Brenton The joy of our heart has ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. BSB BSB: Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
16 Brenton The crown has fallen from our head: yea, woe to us! for we have sinned. BSB BSB: The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 Brenton For this has grief come; our heart is sorrowful: for this our eyes are darkened. BSB BSB: Because of this, our hearts are faint; because of these, our eyes grow dim—
18 Brenton Over the mountain of Sion, because it is made desolate, foxes have walked therein. BSB BSB: because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, patrolled by foxes.
19 Brenton But thou, O Lord, shalt dwell for ever; thy throne shall endure to generation and generation. BSB BSB: You, O LORD, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation.
20 Brenton Wherefore wilt thou utterly forget us, and abandon us a long time? BSB BSB: Why have You forgotten us forever? Why have You forsaken us for so long?
21 Brenton Turn us, O Lord, to thee, and we shall be turned; and renew our days as before. BSB BSB: Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return; renew our days as of old,
22 Brenton For thou hast indeed rejected us; thou hast been very wroth against us. BSB BSB: unless You have utterly rejected us and remain angry with us beyond measure.