Lamentations 5:15

Modern

Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.

Traditional

The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.

Literal

The joy of our heart has ceased, our dancing has turned to mourning;

Latin

Defecit gaudium cordis nostri; versus est in luctum chorus noster.

Hebrew

English

Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.

These terrible things happened because the people had sinned (see Isaiah 24:7–12; Jeremiah 7:24; Jeremiah 13:18; Jeremiah 25:10–11; Amos 8:10).

This chapter is a sincere prayer asking for restoration (compare Daniel 9:4–19).

Theme notes and profiles

Amos 8:10
I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation. I will cause everyone to wear sackcloth and every head to be shaved. I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son, and its outcome like a bitter day.
Jeremiah 25:10
Moreover, I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp.
Amos 6:4–7
You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall.
Psalm 30:11
You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
James 4:9–10
Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.