A Prayer for Restoration

1Remember, O Lorde, what is come vpon vs: consider, and behold our reproche.

2Our inheritance is turned to the strangers, our houses to the aliants.

3We are fatherles, euen without father, and our mothers are as widowes.

4Wee haue drunke our water for money, and our wood is solde vnto vs.

5Our neckes are vnder persecution: we are wearie, and haue no rest.

6We haue giuen our handes to the Egyptians, and to Asshur, to be satisfied with bread.

7Our fathers haue sinned, and are not, and we haue borne their iniquities.

8Seruants haue ruled ouer vs, none would deliuer vs out of their hands.

9Wee gate our bread with the perill of our liues, because of the sword of the wildernesse.

10Our skinne was blacke like as an ouen because of the terrible famine.

11They defiled the women in Zion, and the maydes in the cities of Iudah.

12The princes are hanged vp by their hande: the faces of the elders were not had in honour.

13They tooke the yong men to grinde, and the children fell vnder the wood.

14The Elders haue ceased from the gate and the yong men from their songs.

15The ioy of our heart is gone, our daunce is turned into mourning.

16The crowne of our head is fallen: wo nowe vnto vs, that we haue sinned.

17Therefore our heart is heauy for these things, our eyes are dimme,

18Because of the mountaine of Zion which is desolate: the foxes runne vpon it.

19But thou, O Lord, remainest for euer: thy throne is from generation to generation.

20Wherefore doest thou forget vs for euer, and forsake vs so long time?

21Turne thou vs vnto thee, O Lord, and we shalbe turned: renue our dayes as of olde.

22But thou hast vtterly reiected vs: thou art exceedingly angry against vs.