Lamentations 3:31-66

31For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.

32Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.

33For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.

34To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land,

35to deny people their rights before the Most High,

36to deprive them of justice— would not the Lord see such things?

37Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?

38Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?

39Why should the living complain when punished for their sins?

40Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD .

41Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven, and say:

42“We have sinned and rebelled and you have not forgiven.

43“You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us; you have slain without pity.

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

45You have made us scum and refuse among the nations.

46“All our enemies have opened their mouths wide against us.

47We have suffered terror and pitfalls, ruin and destruction.”

48Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed.

49My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief,

50until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.

51What I see brings grief to my soul because of all the women of my city.

52Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird.

53They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me;

54the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to perish.

55I called on your name, LORD, from the depths of the pit.

56You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.”

57You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.”

58You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life.

59LORD, you have seen the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause!

60You have seen the depth of their vengeance, all their plots against me.

61LORD, you have heard their insults, all their plots against me—

62what my enemies whisper and mutter against me all day long.

63Look at them! Sitting or standing, they mock me in their songs.

64Pay them back what they deserve, LORD, for what their hands have done.

65Put a veil over their hearts, and may your curse be on them! 66Pursue them in anger and destroy them from under the heavens of the LORD .