8. Servants and slaves rule over us; there is none to deliver us out of their hands. [Neh. 5:15.]
9. We get our bread at the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness [the wild Arabs, who may attack if we venture into the fields to reap our harvests].
10. Our skin glows and is parched as from [the heat of] an oven because of the burning heat of [the fever of] famine.
11. They ravished the women in Zion, the virgins in the cities of Judah.
12. They hung princes by their hands; the persons of elders were not respected.
13. Young men carried millstones, and boys fell [staggering] under [burdens of] wood.
14. The elders have ceased from [congregating at] the city's gate, the young men from their music.
15. Ceased is the joy of our hearts; our dancing has turned into mourning.
16. The crown has fallen from our head [our honor is brought to the dust]! Woe to us, for we have sinned!