Lamentations, Chapter 5

Remember Lord the Afflictions we have borne:
See how we are to all the world a Scorne!
Our Lands and Houses forreiners possesse:
Our Mothers, Widdowes; and we Fatherlesse.
To us our wood the greedy Strangersels;
And dearely purcha'st water from our wels.
Our necks with heavy burthens are opprest:
All Day we toyle, at Night depriv'd of Rest.
We, in the Egyptian and Assyrian Lands,
Are forc't to beg our bread with stretcht-out hands.
Our Fathers, who transgrest, in Death remaine:
And we the pressure of their sins sustaine.
Who were our vassals, now our Soveraignes are:
And none survive to comfort our despaire.
With perill of our lives we seeke our food;
The sword in pathlesse Deserts thirsts for blood:
While Stormes of Famine mutiny within;
And like a furnace tan the saplesse skin.
In Judah's Cities Virgins they deflowre:
In Sion, ravisht wives their wrongs deplore.
They crucifie our Princes in their rage;
Nor honour the aspect of reverend Age.
Our Youth enforce to grind, with lashes gall:
And Boyes beneath their cruell Burthens fall.
No Judge on high Tribunals now appeares:
No Musick drawes our Soules into our Eares.
Joy, from our broken hearts exiled, flyes:
Our mirth is chang'd to mourning Elegies.
The crowne from our ecclipsed Browes is torne:
By all, except thy punishments, forlorne.
Woe to our Sins! for these we waste our yeares
In Servitude. We drowne our Eyes with teares
For thee deserted Sion: Foxes dwell
Among thy ruines! who our woes can tell!
Yet, Lord, thou ever liv'st: Thy Throne shall last,
When funerall Flames the World to Cinders waste.
O why hast thou so long forgot thine owne!
Wilt thou forsake us as if never knowne!
O call us back, that we thy face may view:
Those happy Dayes we once enjoy'd, renew.
But thou hast cast us off to tread the path
Of Exile: made the Object of thy wrath.