Lamentations 3

1I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

2He led me and guided me in darkness, not light.

3Surely against me he returns to turn his hand all day.

4He has wasted my flesh and my skin; he has broken my bones.

5He built against me and encircled me with gall and misery.

6He has made me dwell in dark places like the dead of old.

7He fenced me about so I cannot go out; he made my bronze chains heavy.

8Even when I cry out and shout, he shuts out my prayer.

9He has walled up my ways with hewn stone; he has bent my paths crooked.

10He is to me a bear lying in ambush, a lion in hiding places.

11He turned my ways aside, tore me in pieces, and made me desolate.

12He drew his bow and set me as a target for the arrow.

13He has thrust the arrows of his quiver into my inward parts.

14I have become a mockery to all my people and their music all day.

15He has filled me with bitter things and drenched me with wormwood.

16He crushed my teeth with gravel; he covered me with ashes.

17You have cast my soul far from peace; I have forgotten prosperity.

18And I said, "My endurance and my hope have perished from Yahweh."

19Remember my suffering and my anguish, wormwood and gall.

20Remember! My soul remembers and sinks down within me.

21This I bring to mind; therefore I have hope.

22It is Yahweh's kindnesses that keep us from being consumed, because his compassions never fail.

23They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is great.

24Yahweh is my portion, my soul declares; therefore I will hope in him.

25Yahweh is good to those who wait on him, to the soul that seeks him.

26It is good to hope and wait quietly for Yahweh's salvation.

27It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth.

28Let him sit alone and be silent because he has taken it upon himself.

29Let him place his mouth in the dust—perhaps there is hope.

30Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him; let him be sated with reproach.

31For the Lord does not reject forever.

32For though he causes grief, he will have compassion according to his abundant mercies.

33For he does not afflict from his heart, nor grieve the sons of men.

34To crush beneath his feet all the prisoners of the earth.

35to pervert a man's justice in the sight of the Most High,

36The Lord does not approve wronging a man in his dispute.

37Who is this who speaks and it comes to pass, if the Lord has not commanded it?

38Do calamities and good not come forth from the mouth of the Most High?

39Why should a living man complain, a man for his sin—his sins?

40Let us search and test our ways, and return to Yahweh.

41Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the heavens.

42We have rebelled and disobeyed, and you have not forgiven.

43You wrapped yourself in anger and pursued us; you killed without pity.

44You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer passes through.

45You made us offscouring and refuse among the peoples.

46All our foes have opened their mouths wide against us.

47Terror and snare have come upon us, desolation and ruin.

48Streams of water flow down my eyes because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.

49My eyes pour down ceaselessly, without any respite.

50until Yahweh looks down and sees from heaven.

51My eye grieves my soul because of all the daughters of my city.

52My enemies hunted me down like a bird for no reason.

53They cut short my life in the pit and threw a stone upon me.

54Waters overflowed my head; I said, "I am cut off."

55I called upon your name, Yahweh, from the lowest pit.

56You heard my voice; do not hide your ear from my sighing, from my cry.

57You came near on the day I called to you; you said, "Do not fear."

58Lord, you have defended the causes of my soul; you have redeemed my life.

59Yahweh, you have seen my wrong; judge my case.

60You have seen all their vengeance, all their schemes against me.

61You have heard their reproach, Yahweh, all their schemes against me.

62The lips of my adversaries and their schemes against me all day long.

63Look upon their sitting and their rising; I am their music.

64Repay them their due, Yahweh, for the deeds of their hands.

65You will give them sorrow of heart, your curse upon them.

66You will pursue them in anger and destroy them from beneath the heavens of Yahweh.