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A Prayer for Mercy

The People of Jerusalem Pray:[a]

Our Lord, don't forget
how we have suffered
    and been disgraced.
Foreigners and strangers
have taken our land
    and our homes.
We are like children
    whose mothers are widows.
The water we drink
and the wood we burn
    cost far too much.
We are terribly mistreated;[b]
we are worn out
    and can find no rest.
We had to surrender
to[c] Egypt and Assyria
    because we were hungry.

Our ancestors sinned,
    but they are dead,
and we are left to pay
    for their sins.
Slaves are now our rulers,
and there is no one
    to set us free.
We are in danger
    from brutal desert tribes;
we must risk our lives
    just to bring in our crops.[d]
10 Our skin is scorched
    from fever and hunger.

11 On Zion and everywhere in Judah
our wives and daughters
    are being raped.
12 Our rulers are strung up
    by their arms,
and our nation's advisors
    are treated shamefully.
13 Young men are forced
    to do the work of slaves;
boys must carry
    heavy loads of wood.
14 Our leaders are not allowed
    to decide cases in court,
and young people
    no longer play music.

15 Our hearts are sad;
instead of dancing,
    we mourn.
16 Zion's glory has disappeared!
And we are doomed
    because of our sins.
17 We feel sick all over
    and can't even see straight;
18 our city is in ruins,
    overrun by wild dogs.

19 You will rule forever, Lord!
    You are King for all time.
20 Why have you forgotten us
    for so long?
21 Bring us back to you!
    Give us a fresh start.
22 Or do you despise us so much
    that you don't want us?

Footnotes

  1. 5.1 The People of Jerusalem Pray: Or “The Prophet Prays.”
  2. 5.5 We … mistreated: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  3. 5.6 surrender to: Or “make treaties with.”
  4. 5.9 crops: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 9.

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