TRV
Translation
King James Version
Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.
Complete Jewish Bible
ADONAI, turn us back to you; and we will come back; renew our days, as they were in the past -
Berean Standard Bible
Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return; renew our days as of old,
American Standard Version
Turn thou us unto thee, O Jehovah, and we shall be turned; Renew our days as of old.
World English Bible Messianic
Turn us to yourself, LORD, and we shall be turned. Renew our days as of old.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Turne thou vs vnto thee, O Lord, and we shalbe turned: renue our dayes as of olde.
Young's Literal Translation
Turn us back, O Jehovah, unto Thee, And we turn back, renew our days as of old.
In the KJVVerse 20,464 of 31,102
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Commentary on Lamentations 5 verses 17–22
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.
Here, I. The people of God express the deep concern they had for the ruins of the temple, more than for any other of their calamities; the interests of God's house lay nearer their hearts than those of their own (Lam 5:17, Lam 5:18): For this our heart is faint, and sinks under the load of its own heaviness; for these things our eyes are dim, and our sight is gone, as is usual in a deliquium, or fainting fit. "It is because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the holy mountain, and the temple built upon that mountain. For other desolations our hearts grieve and our eyes weep; but for this our hearts faint and our eyes are dim." Note, Nothing lies so heavily upon the spirits of good people as that which threatens the ruin of religion or weakens its interests; and it is a comfort if we can appeal to God that that afflicts us more than any temporal affliction to ourselves. "The people have polluted the mountain of Zion with their sins, and therefore God has justly made it desolate, to such a degree that the foxes walk upon it as freely and commonly as they do in the woods." It is sad indeed when the mountain of Zion has become a portion for foxes (Psa 63:10); but sin had first made it so, Eze 13:4.
II. They comfort themselves with the doctrine of God's eternity, and the perpetuity of his government (Lam 5:19): But thou, O Lord! remainest for ever. This they are taught to do by that psalm which is entitled, A prayer of the afflicted, Psa 102:27, Psa 102:28. When all our creature-comforts are removed from us, and our hearts fail us, we may then encourage ourselves with the belief, 1. Of God's eternity: Thou remainest for ever. What shakes the world gives no disturbance to him who made it; whatever revolutions there are on earth there is no change in the Eternal Mind; God is still the same, and remains for ever infinitely wise and holy, just and good; with him there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. 2. Of the never-failing continuance of his dominion: Thy throne is from generation to generation; the throne of glory, the throne of grace, and the throne of government, are all unchangeable, immovable; and this is matter of comfort to us when the crown has fallen from our head. When the thrones of princes, that should be our protectors, are brought to the dust, and buried in it, God's throne continues still; he still rules the world, and rules it for the good of the church. The Lord reigns, reigns for ever, even thy God, O Zion!
III. They humbly expostulate with God concerning the low condition they were now in, and the frowns of heaven they were now under (Lam 5:20): "Wherefore dost thou forsake us so long time, as if we were quite deprived of the tokens of thy presence? Wherefore dost thou defer our deliverance, as if thou hadst utterly abandoned us? Thou art the same, and, though the throne of thy sanctuary is demolished, thy throne in heaven is unshaken. But wilt thou not be the same to us?" Not as if they thought God had forgotten and forsaken them, much less feared his forgetting and forsaking them for ever; but thus they express the value they had for his favour and presence, which they thought it long that they were deprived of the evidence and comfort of. The last verse may be read as such an expostulation, and so the margin reads it: "For wilt thou utterly reject us? Wilt thou be perpetually wroth with us, not only not smile upon us and remember us in mercy, but frown upon us and lay us under the tokens of thy wrath, not only not draw nigh to us, but cast us out of thy presence and forbid us to draw nigh unto thee? How ill this be reconciled with thy goodness and faithfulness, and the stability of thy covenant?" We read it, "But thou hast rejected us; thou hast given us cause to fear that thou hast. Lord, how long shall we be in this temptation?" Note, Thou we may not quarrel with God, yet we may plead with him; and, though we may not conclude that he has cast off, yet we may (with the prophet, Jer 12:1) humbly reason with him concerning his judgments, especially the continuance of the desolations of his sanctuary.
IV. They earnestly pray to God for mercy and grace: "Lord, do not reject us for ever, but turn thou us unto thee; renew our days," Lam 5:21. Though these words are not put last, yet the Rabbin, because they would not have the book to conclude with those melancholy words (Lam 5:22), repeat this prayer again, that the sun may not set under a cloud, and so make these the last words both in writing and reading this chapter. They here pray, 1. For converting grace to prepare and qualify them for mercy: Turn us to thee, O Lord! They had complained that God had forsaken and forgotten them, and then their prayer is not, Turn thou to us, but, Turn us to thee, which implies an acknowledgment that the cause of the distance was in themselves. God never leaves any till they first leave him, nor stands afar off from any longer than while they stand afar off from him; if therefore he turn them to him in a way of duty, no doubt but he will quickly return to them in a way of mercy. This agrees with that repeated prayer (Psa 80:3, Psa 80:7, Psa 80:19), Turn us again, and then cause thy face to shine. Turn us from our idols to thyself, by a sincere repentance and reformation, and then we shall be turned. This implies a further acknowledgment of their own weakness and inability to turn themselves. There is in our nature a proneness to backslide from God, but no disposition to return to him till his grace works in us both to will and to do. So necessary is that grace that we may truly say, Turn us or we shall not be turned, but shall wander endlessly; and so powerful and effectual is that grace that we may as truly say, Turn us, and we shall be turned; for it is a day of power, almighty power, in which God's people are made a willing people, Psa 110:3. 2. For restoring mercy: Turn us to thee, and then renew our days as of old, put us into the same happy state that our ancestors were in long ago and that they continued long in; let it be with us as it was at the first, and at the beginning, Isa 1:26. Note, If God by his grace renew our hearts, he will be his favour renew our days, so that we shall renew our youth as the eagle, Psa 103:5. Those that repent, and do their first works, shall rejoice, and recover their first comforts. God's mercies to his people have been ever of old (Psa 25:6); and therefore they may hope, even then when he seems to have forsaken and forgotten them, that the mercy which was from everlasting will be to everlasting.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 17–22. Public domain.
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Thomas AquinasAD 1274
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."
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Lamentations 5:21 serves as the climactic and concluding prayer of a people utterly devastated by the destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile. It is a desperate yet profound plea for divine intervention, acknowledging the nation's spiritual paralysis and their inability to genuinely repent or restore themselves without God's sovereign hand. The verse encapsulates a deep yearning for spiritual renewal and a return to a state of divine favor and flourishing, echoing a foundational theological truth: true transformation, whether personal or corporate, originates from God's grace and initiative, leading to a renewed experience of His presence and blessings.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Lamentations 5:21 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is Parallelism, specifically Synthetic Parallelism, where the second line expands upon or completes the thought of the first. "Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned" demonstrates this, with the second clause ("and we shall be turned") being the direct consequence of the first ("Turn thou us"). This emphasizes the divine initiative and human response. The repetition of the root "turn" (Hebrew shûwb) also functions as a powerful form of Repetition or Polyptoton, underscoring the central theme of repentance and restoration, and highlighting the theological truth that genuine turning to God is enabled by God's turning of us. The phrase "renew our days as of old" uses Imagery and Metaphor, envisioning a restoration of time itself, a return to a more blessed and flourishing era, painting a vivid picture of national and spiritual rejuvenation. The entire verse is a poignant Supplication, a humble and urgent prayer, which is a key characteristic of the lament genre, demonstrating the people's complete dependence on God.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Lamentations 5:21 articulates a profound theological truth central to biblical understanding: humanity's inherent inability to truly turn to God without divine enablement. This verse underscores that genuine repentance and spiritual renewal are not merely human endeavors but are initiated and empowered by God's sovereign grace. The plea for God to "turn us" acknowledges a spiritual paralysis, a deep-seated brokenness that only God can mend. This concept resonates throughout Scripture, highlighting God's active role in drawing His people to Himself and in transforming their hearts. The desire to "renew our days as of old" speaks to God's character as a God of restoration, who can bring life out of death, order out of chaos, and hope out of despair, ultimately pointing to His redemptive plan for His people.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Lamentations 5:21 offers a timeless prayer for individuals, communities, and nations grappling with spiritual stagnation, moral decline, or overwhelming adversity. It calls us to a profound humility, recognizing that our capacity for genuine repentance and lasting change is ultimately dependent on God's initiating grace. When we find ourselves adrift in sin, apathy, or despair, this verse instructs us to cry out to God, not merely for external circumstances to change, but for Him to turn our hearts back to Him. It reminds us that true spiritual renewal—whether a personal awakening or a corporate revival—is a divine work, a testament to God's power to restore what is broken and to make all things new. This prayer encourages persistent, faith-filled supplication, trusting that God, who is faithful to His covenant, hears the cries of His people and is able to "renew our days" beyond our imagination, aligning us with His perfect will and purpose, and enabling us to walk in renewed obedience and joy.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does the prayer ask God to "turn us" if people are responsible for repenting?
Answer: This verse highlights a crucial theological tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. While Scripture clearly calls individuals to repent (e.g., Acts 3:19), Lamentations 5:21 acknowledges that true, heartfelt repentance is ultimately enabled by God's grace. The human heart, marred by sin, is often resistant or unable to turn fully to God on its own. Therefore, the prayer is a recognition of spiritual brokenness and a plea for God to supernaturally incline the heart towards Him, to grant the gift of repentance (as seen in 2 Timothy 2:25). It's an admission that without God's initiative, genuine turning is impossible, emphasizing our utter dependence on Him for spiritual renewal. This divine enablement does not negate human responsibility but makes true repentance possible.
What does "renew our days as of old" specifically refer to?
Answer: "Renew our days as of old" expresses a profound longing for a return to a past era of divine favor, national prosperity, and covenant faithfulness. For the people of Judah, "as of old" likely invoked memories of the united monarchy under David and Solomon, a time of peace, justice, and God's manifest presence in the Temple. It was a period when God's blessings were evident, and the nation lived in relative security and spiritual vitality. The prayer is not merely for a nostalgic return to the past, but for God to restore their spiritual and physical well-being to a state that reflects His original design and covenant promises for His people, bringing an end to their current suffering and shame. This desire for renewal anticipates the New Covenant promises of a future restoration.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Lamentations 5:21 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The desperate cry for God to "Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned" is answered definitively in the person and work of Christ. He is the one through whom true repentance is made possible, not merely as a human effort, but as a divine gift (as described in Acts 5:31). Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Jesus broke the power of sin that binds human hearts and prevents them from turning to God, making reconciliation possible (Romans 5:10). He is the way, the truth, and the life, the sole path by which humanity can be reconciled to the Father (John 14:6). Furthermore, the plea to "renew our days as of old" points forward to the new creation inaugurated by Christ. While the Old Testament longed for a restoration of past glory, Christ offers something far greater: a new covenant (Hebrews 8:6) and a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) where believers are made new in Him, experiencing spiritual vitality and a relationship with God that surpasses anything known "of old." The renewal Christ brings is not merely a return to a former state, but a transformation into a glorious future, where all things are made new in His eternal kingdom (Revelation 21:5).