Lamentations , Sarah Barry
RESTORE US, LORD
Passage: Lamentations 5:1~22  
Key verse: 21
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)
Cross references
- Lamentations 5:1 : Ps 44:13-16; 89:50
- Lamentations 5:2 : Ps 79:1
- Lamentations 5:2 : S Ps 109:11
- Lamentations 5:2 : Zep 1:13
- Lamentations 5:2 : Jer 17:4
- Lamentations 5:3 : S Ex 22:24; Jer 15:8; S 18:21
- Lamentations 5:4 : S Isa 55:1; Eze 4:16-17
- Lamentations 5:4 : Isa 3:1
- Lamentations 5:5 : S Ne 9:37; Isa 47:6
- Lamentations 5:5 : S Jos 1:13
- Lamentations 5:6 : Jer 2:36; Hos 5:13; 7:11; 9:3
- Lamentations 5:7 : S Jer 31:29
- Lamentations 5:7 : Jer 14:20; 16:12
- Lamentations 5:8 : Ne 5:15
- Lamentations 5:8 : Zec 11:6
- Lamentations 5:10 : S Job 30:30; S La 4:8-9
- Lamentations 5:11 : S Ge 34:29; Zec 14:2
- Lamentations 5:12 : S Lev 19:32
- Lamentations 5:12 : S La 2:6; 4:16
- Lamentations 5:14 : S Isa 24:8; Jer 7:34
- Lamentations 5:15 : S Jer 25:10; Am 8:10
- Lamentations 5:16 : Ps 89:39; S Jer 13:18
- Lamentations 5:16 : S Job 19:9
- Lamentations 5:16 : S Isa 3:11; Jer 14:20
- Lamentations 5:17 : S Isa 1:5
- Lamentations 5:17 : S Jer 8:18
- Lamentations 5:17 : Ps 6:7
- Lamentations 5:17 : S Job 16:8
- Lamentations 5:18 : Ps 74:2-3
- Lamentations 5:18 : S Isa 27:10; Mic 3:12
- Lamentations 5:19 : S 1Ch 16:31
- Lamentations 5:19 : S Ps 45:6; 102:12, 24-27
- Lamentations 5:20 : S Ps 13:1; 44:24
- Lamentations 5:20 : S Ps 71:11
- Lamentations 5:21 : S Ps 80:3; Isa 60:20-22
- Lamentations 5:22 : S Ps 53:5; 60:1-2; S Jer 6:30
- Lamentations 5:22 : S Isa 64:9
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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!