A Prayer for Mercy
The People of Jerusalem Pray:
1 Our Lord, don't forget
how we have suffered
and been disgraced.
2 Foreigners and strangers
have taken our land
and our homes.
3 We are like children
whose mothers are widows.
4 The water we drink
and the wood we burn
cost far too much.
5 We are terribly mistreated;
we are worn out
and can find no rest.
6 We had to surrender
to Egypt and Assyria
because we were hungry.
7 Our ancestors sinned,
but they are dead,
and we are left to pay
for their sins.
8 Slaves are now our rulers,
and there is no one
to set us free.
9 We are in danger
from brutal desert tribes;
we must risk our lives
just to bring in our crops.
10 Our skin is scorched
from fever and hunger.
11 On Zion and everywhere in Judah
our wives and daughters
are being raped.
12 Our rulers are strung up
by their arms,
and our nation's advisors
are treated shamefully.
13 Young men are forced
to do the work of slaves;
boys must carry
heavy loads of wood.
14 Our leaders are not allowed
to decide cases in court,
and young people
no longer play music.
15 Our hearts are sad;
instead of dancing,
we mourn.
16 Zion's glory has disappeared!
And we are doomed
because of our sins.
17 We feel sick all over
and can't even see straight;
18 our city is in ruins,
overrun by wild dogs.
19 You will rule forever, Lord!
You are King for all time.
20 Why have you forgotten us
for so long?
21 Bring us back to you!
Give us a fresh start.
22 Or do you despise us so much
that you don't want us?
Duwaa ka Alla daani balafaa la
1 Hee Yaawe*, i hakiloo ye bula meŋ laata ǹ kaŋ,
ǹ na malu daa juubee.
2 Ǹ na keetaabankoo dunta luntaŋolu le bulu,
ǹ na suwolu, bantala moolu bulu.
3 Ǹ keta aliyatiimoolu ti, faantaŋolu,
m̀ baañolu keta furuyaamusoolu ti.
4 Ka jiyo miŋ, fo ǹ si kodoo joo,
hani loo, ǹ ka a saŋ ne.
5 Yookoo* le ka tara ǹ toŋo kaŋ taariŋ.
M̀ be bataariŋ ne de!
M̀ maŋ dahaa soto.
6 Ŋà m̀ buloo laa Misira le ye,
aniŋ Asiriya, ka domoroo soto.
7 Ǹ na alifaa foloolu ye junuboo ke,
ì te keriŋ kotenke,
silaŋ ntolu le ye ì la kuu kuruŋolu dunoo taa.
8 Joŋolu le marata ǹ na,
moo maŋ soto ka ǹ tankandi ì bulu.
9 Ǹ ka ǹ niyolu le laa ka domoroo soto,
kaatu hawusaritiyolu* ye wuloo balaŋ ne.
10 Konkoo ka ǹ kirikirindi le,
m̀ baloo ka kandi ko fuuroo.
11 Ì ye Siyoni* musoolu ñapinkaŋ ne,
aniŋ sunkutoolu, Yahuuda saatewolu kono.
12 Ì maŋ buuñaa dii alifaalu la,
ì ye maralilaalu deŋ ì buloolu la.
13 Ì ye fondinkewolu diyaakuyaa bula tuuroo la,
kambaanendiŋolu ka timili-tamali loositoolu koto.
14 Keebaalu ye saatee dundaŋ daato beŋo bula,
fondinkewolu la kumafeŋ kosoo danta.
15 Ǹ sondomoolu la seewoo danta le,
ǹ na doŋo yelemata ǹ ye saŋakumboo ti.
16 Ñaroo jolonta le ka bo ǹ kuŋo to,
kooroo boyita ǹ kaŋ, kaatu ŋà junuboo le ke.
17 Ǹ sondomoolu faŋo kono, ǹ jikilateyita le,
ñiŋ kuwolu kamma, kumboo ye ǹ ñaalu dibindi.
18 A juubee, Siyoni Konkoo kenseŋo le tuta looriŋ,
kunkuwuloolu be yaayi la a kaŋ.
19 Bari ite Yaawe be tu la maraloo la le,
i la mansasiiraŋo le be tu la jamaani naalaalu bee la.
20 Muŋ ne ye i ñinandi ntolu la ñiŋ saŋolu bee la,
muŋ ne ye a tinna ì ye i koo dii ǹ na fo waati jaŋ?
21 Yaawe, dukaree, m̀ murundi i faŋ kaŋ,
fo ǹ si muru naŋ,
i ye ǹ na baluwo kutayandi ko koomanto.
22 Fo duŋ, i ye i koo dii ǹ na le fereŋ,
fo i la kamfaa maŋ dandulaa soto baŋ?
