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1 Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2 Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3 We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows. 4 We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us. 5 Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest. 6 We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread. 7 Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities. 8 Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand. 9 We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness. 10 Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine. 11 They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah. 12 Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured. 13 They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood. 14 The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick. 15 The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. 16 The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 17 For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim. 18 Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it. 19 Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation. 20 Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time? 21 Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. 22 But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.
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[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:1
Here in Chapter 5, the prophet, after many lamentations, addressed himself for a remedy by prayer. So, he first exposes the people's misery, second, he seeks mercy. As expressed in Verse 19: "But thou, O Lord, dost reign for ever; thy throne endures to all generations."

The first idea (the people's misery) has two aspects. First, the people's misery, in itself is exposed, second, the people's goods that were lost. As said in Verse 14: "The old men have quit the city gate, the young men their music."

Around the first (misery in itself) are two notations. First, in Verse 1 is aroused attention: "Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us;". That is, be attentive to our misery itself. And, as said in Chapter 3:19: "Remember my affliction and my bitterness, the wormwood and the gall!"

So, Verse 1 says: "Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us."Which states, as if, hold in attention. Then: "behold": with such attention fix your consideration,"and see our disgrace!"
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:2
Verse 2 considers the people's affliction. First, in general, second by going down to particular persons. As expressed in Verse 11: "Women are ravished in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah."

As to the people's affliction in general are two ideas. First is excluded those things by which ~ople are sustained against miseries. Namely, as to their possessions, passed over to enemies control. As Verse 2 states: "Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to aliens." Also, as Chapter 1:10 says: "The enemy has stretched out his hands over all her precious things." And, Jeremiah 6:12 states: "Their houses shall be turned over to others, their fields and wives together."
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:3
Regarding divine protection Verse 3 declares: "We have become orphans, fatherless;". That is, we are destitute of divine direction, like to a paternal consolation. And: " our mothers are like widows." Since definite security is called for. As the prophet Isaiah asserts: "Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and, has not compassion on their fatherless and widows, for everyone is godless and' 'an evil doer, and every mouth speaks folly." (Is : 9:17).
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:4
Here particular miseries are viewed which the people suffer. As stated: "We must pay for the water we drink," Namely, because of the people's slavery, and due to their affliction. As Verse 9 records: "We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness."

As to the people's slavery are two further notions. First is the slavery in itself, and then its exaggeration. As said in Verse 7: "Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bear their iniquities."

On the people's slavery in itself are two more ideas. One regards the people's slavery as they suffered loss of possessions. As Verse 4 declares: "We must pay for the water we drink, the wood we get must be bought." And as Deuteronomy 2:6 repeats: "and you shall also buy water of them for money, that you may drink."
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:5
Then is considered slavery as first forced upon their own person. As said: "~ith a yoke on our necks we are hard driven; we are weary, we are given no rest." Which proclaims, as if: pressure is upon our necks in a manner we wish not since such pressure binds our neck. Deuteronomy 28:65 is applicable: "and among these nations you shall find no ease, and there shall be no rest for the sole of your foot."
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:6
Now, the people's slavery is personal and voluntary, because impelled by no means, people sell themselves to others in slavery. Or, at least for a time, as Verse 6 states: "We have given the hand to Egypt,and to Assyria, to get bread enough." That is, subjugating themselves to them. As I Samuel 2:5 claims: "Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger."

Again: Verse 6: "We have given the hand to Egypt, and to Assyria, to get bread enough". That is, by demanding aid. As Jeremiah 2:18 says: "And now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drin~c the waters of the Euphrates?"
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:7
Here the people's slavery is exaggerated. So, first are viewed the conditions of those enslaved, as they are being punished for the sins of others. As said: "Our fathers sinned, and are no more, and we bear their iniquities." Since our fathers have died: "we bear their iniquities", while sustaining their punishments.

On the contrary, the prophet Ezekiel claims: "The word of the Lord came to me again: 'What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel,"The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge"? (Ezek 18:1-2). Solutions can then be declared. As in Exodus 20:5: "for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation." And Deuteronomy 32:41 asserts: "I will take vengeance on my adversaries, and will requite those who hate me."
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:8
The people's slavery is also exaggerated by the conditions of those enslaving, or dominating. As Verse 8 says: "Slaves rule over us; there is none to deliver us from their hand." Namely, just as the Moabites and the Idumaeans, and other neighbors, by whom they were first dominated.

As Proverbs reminds us: "Under three things the earth trembles; under four it can not bear up: A slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food; an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maid when she succeeds her mistress." (Prov: 30:21-22-23).
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:9
Here is viewed the affliction of hunger. First is shown the people's want; "at the peril of our lives", That is, at a danger to our soul, to our very life. Also, while fleeing into the desert from the face of the sword of Babylon. Or, because, due to loading themselves with foods, they exposed themselves to dangers. As a result, their enemies pursuing them into the desert, would make them flee. As Isaiah 21:14 records: "to the thirsty bring water, meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema."
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:10
Then is considered in Verse 10 the effects of famine. As stated: "our skin is hot as an oven." That is, dried up by hunger. And: "with the burning heat of famine." As if being obsessed, and fleeing the famine, the people suffered a long time. Like the prophet Hosea 7:6 says: "For like an oven their hearts burn with intrigue." And Job: 19:20: "My bones cleave to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:11
Here special persons are viewed. For instance, women ravished in Zion by men corrupting women. As Deuteronomy 28:30 records: "You shall betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her." And further on: '"Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, while your eyes look on and fail with longing for them all the day." (Deuteronomy 28:32).
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:13
Thirdly, as to the youth: "Young men are compelled to grind at the mill; and boys stagger under loads of wood." The prophet Joel 3:3 declares: "And have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a harlot, and have sold a girl for wine, and have drunk it."
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:14
Here misery is considered in relation to the people's lost possessions. First, as persons' offices as stated: "The old men have quit the city gate." Namely, exercising their office at the city gate.

Then: "the young men their music": That is, as exercising their office as leaders in chorusing. As I Maccabees 2:9 refers: Her babes have been killed in her streets, her youths by the sword of the foe."
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:15
Here reference is made to the exercise of joy: "The joy of our hearts has ceased, our dincing has been turned to mourning." As the propher Amos states: "I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentations." (Amos: 8:10).
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:16
Here is indicated the glory of di~nities. First, the glory of a king. As stated: "The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!" As Job 19:9 records: "He has stripped from me my glory, and taken the crown from my head."

Second, is the glory of the temple. Here sadness is placed upon it.
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:18
Here is indeed cause for sadness: "For Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it." That is, where the temple is. And: "jackals prowl over it." As if they were residing in remote desert places. Thus, the prophet Micah reports: "Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height." (Micah: 3:12).
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:19
Here a person is inclined to beseech the Lord. First is acknowledged the eternity of the divine being, or substance. As said: "But thou, O Lord, dost reign forever." Then is expressed the duration of the divine royal glory: "thy throne endures to all generations." Thus, Psalm 102(101):12 states: "But thou, O Lord, art enthroned forever; thy name endures to all generations."
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:20
Then, there is a wondered indigration. As said: "Why dost thou forget us forever, why dost thou so long forsake us?" Just as the prophet Isaiah 49:15 exclains: "Can a woman forget her suckling child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?"
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:21
Thirdly, a prayer is prolonged. As stated: "Restore us to thyself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old!" And as the prophet Jeremiah elsewhere proclaims: "bring me back that I may be restored, for thou art the Lord my God." (Jer: 31:18).

On the contrary, the prophet Zechariah 1:3 proclaims: "Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you."

Yet, it must be said that each proclamation is true, due to the fact that a preparation of one's will is demanded for deeds of merits, and for an infusion of divine grace.

Then: "Renew our days as of old!" Thus Job 29:2 exclaims: "Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me."
[AD 1274] Thomas Aquinas on Lamentations 5:22
Finally, is considered the need for praying. As stated: "Or hast thou utterly rejected us? Art thou exceedingly angry with us?" And as Jeremiah elsewhere states: "Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? Does thy soul loath Zion? Why hast thou smitten us so that there is no healing for us?" (Jer: l4;l9).