The prayer of Jeremias the prophet.

[1] Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider and behold our reproach. [2] Our inheritance is turned to aliens: our houses to strangers. [3] We are become orphans without a father: our mothers are as widows. [4] We have drunk our water for money: we have bought our wood. [5] We were dragged by the necks, we were weary and no rest was given us.

[6] We have given our hand to Egypt, and to the Assyrians, that we might be satisfied with bread. [7] Our fathers have sinned, and are not: and we have borne their iniquities. ... [8] Servants have ruled over us: there was none to redeem us out of their hand. ... [9] We fetched our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the desert. ... [10] Our skin was burnt as an oven, by reason of the violence of the famine.

... [11] They oppressed the women in Sion, and the virgins in the cities of Juda. ... [12] The princes were hanged up by their hand: they did not respect the persons of the ancient. ... [13] They abused the young men indecently: and the children fell under the wood. ... [14] The ancients have ceased from the gates: the young men from the choir of the singers. ... [15] The joy of our heart is ceased, our dancing is turned into mourning.

... [16] The crown is fallen from our head: woe to us, because we have sinned. ... [17] Therefore is our heart sorrowful, therefore are our eyes become dim, ... [18] For mount Sion, because it is destroyed, foxes have walked upon it. ... [19] But thou, O Lord, shalt remain for ever, thy throne from generation to generation. ... [20] Why wilt thou forget us for ever? why wilt thou forsake us for a long time?

... [21] Convert us, O Lord, to thee, and we shall be converted: renew our days, as from the beginning. ... [22] But thou hast utterly rejected us, thou art exceedingly angry against us.