Devine Scripture

Lamentations 5:21

What does Lamentations 5:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Lamentations 5:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Lamentations 5:21 means

They pray, “Turn thou us unto thee, O Jehovah, and we shall be turned; Renew our days as of old.” This recognizes that true repentance and restoration begin with God’s initiative. They need more than changed circumstances; they need changed hearts and a return to covenant blessings. The request looks back to better days, not in nostalgia but as a benchmark of what God once gave and can give again. The logic is humble: if You turn us, we will be turned. It places hope, renewal, and obedience in God’s hands, anticipating the New Covenant promise that God would give His people a new heart and spirit.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Turn thou us unto thee, O Jehovah, and we shall be turned; Renew our days as of old.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Turn thou us unto thee, O Jehovah, and we shall be turned; Renew our days as of old.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Make us come back to you, O Lord, and let us be turned; make our days new again as in the past.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Turn us back, O Jehovah, unto Thee, And we turn back, renew our days as of old.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Convert us, O Lord, to thee, and we shall be converted: renew our days, as from the beginning.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Turn thou us unto thee, Jehovah, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

Context

In response to the question of verse 20, verse 21 presents the central petition: divine turning that produces human turning, and renewal like former days. This is the high point of hope in the chapter. The next and final verse, however, states the grim reality of wrath and rejection as they presently feel it, leaving the prayer unresolved in tone but anchored by the plea for God to act.

v.20Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, Andforsake us so long time?

v.21This passage

v.22But thou hast utterly rejected us; Thou art very wroth against us.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Zechariah 8:3

    Thus saith Jehovah: I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called The city of truth; and the mountain of Jehovah of hosts, The holy mountain.

  • Jeremiah 31:4

    Again will I build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: again shalt thou be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.

  • Jeremiah 32:39

    and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:

  • Jeremiah 31:23

    Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Yet again shall they use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity: Jehovah bless thee, O habitation of righteousness, O mountain of holiness.

  • 1 Kings 18:37

    Hear me, O Jehovah, hear me, that this people may know that thou, Jehovah, art God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

  • Psalms 80:7

    Turn us again, O God of hosts; And cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.

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