Bible in Basic English
Servants are ruling over us, and there is no one to make us free from their hands.
We put our lives in danger to get our bread, because of the sword of the waste land.
Our skin is heated like an oven because of our burning heat from need of food.
They took by force the women in Zion, the virgins in the towns of Judah.
Their hands put princes to death by hanging: the faces of old men were not honoured.
The young men were crushing the grain, and the boys were falling under the wood.
The old men are no longer seated in the doorway, and the music of the young men has come to an end.
The joy of our hearts is ended; our dancing is changed into sorrow.
The crown has been taken from our head: sorrow is ours, for we are sinners.
Because of this our hearts are feeble; for these things our eyes are dark;
Because of the mountain of Zion which is a waste; jackals go over it.
You, O Lord, are seated as King for ever; the seat of your power is eternal.
Why have we gone from your memory for ever? why have you been turned away from us for so long?
Make us come back to you, O Lord, and let us be turned; make our days new again as in the past.
But you have quite given us up; you are full of wrath against us.
— Lamentations 5:8-1964, Bible in Basic English
“Servants rule over us: There is none to deliver us out of their hand. We get our bread at the peril of our lives, Because of the sword of the wilderness. Our skin is black like an oven, Because of the burning heat of famine. They ravished the women in Zion, The virgins in the cities of Judah. Princes were hanged up by their hand: The faces of elders were not honored. The young men bare the mill; The children stumbled under the wood. The elders have ceased from the gate, The young men from their music. The joy of our heart is ceased; Our dance is turned into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head: Woe to us! for we have sinned. For this our heart is faint; For these things our eyes are dim; For the mountain of Zion, which is desolate: The foxes walk on it. You, Yahweh, remain forever; Your throne is from generation to generation. Why do you forget us forever, [And] forsake us so long time? Turn us to yourself, Yahweh, and we shall be turned. Renew our days as of old. But you have utterly rejected us; You are very angry against us.”
Our attackers are on our necks: overcome with weariness, we have no rest.
We have given our hands to the Egyptians and to the Assyrians so that we might have enough bread.
Our fathers were sinners and are dead; and the weight of their evil-doing is on us.
Servants are ruling over us, and there is no one to make us free from their hands.
We put our lives in danger to get our bread, because of the sword of the waste land.
Our skin is heated like an oven because of our burning heat from need of food.
They took by force the women in Zion, the virgins in the towns of Judah.
Their hands put princes to death by hanging: the faces of old men were not honoured.
The young men were crushing the grain, and the boys were falling under the wood.
The old men are no longer seated in the doorway, and the music of the young men has come to an end.
The joy of our hearts is ended; our dancing is changed into sorrow.
The crown has been taken from our head: sorrow is ours, for we are sinners.
Because of this our hearts are feeble; for these things our eyes are dark;
Because of the mountain of Zion which is a waste; jackals go over it.
You, O Lord, are seated as King for ever; the seat of your power is eternal.
Why have we gone from your memory for ever? why have you been turned away from us for so long?
Make us come back to you, O Lord, and let us be turned; make our days new again as in the past.
But you have quite given us up; you are full of wrath against us.