Lamentations 3

1I am the man who hath seen affliction By the rod of His wrath.

2Me He hath led, and causeth to go in darkness, and without light.

3Surely against me He turneth back, He turneth His hand all the day.

4He hath worn out my flesh and my skin. He hath broken my bones.

5He hath built up against me, And setteth round poverty and weariness.

6In dark places He hath caused me to dwell, As the dead of old.

7He hath hedged me about, and I go not out, He hath made heavy my fetter.

8Also when I call and cry out, He hath shut out my prayer.

9He hath hedged my ways with hewn work, My paths He hath made crooked.

10A bear lying in wait He is to me, A lion in secret hiding-places.

11My ways He is turning aside, and He pulleth me in pieces, He hath made me a desolation.

12He hath trodden His bow, And setteth me up as a mark for an arrow.

13He hath caused to enter into my reins The sons of His quiver.

14I have been a derision to all my people, Their song all the day.

15He hath filled me with bitter things, He hath filled me with wormwood.

16And He breaketh with gravel my teeth, He hath covered me with ashes.

17And Thou castest off from peace my soul, I have forgotten prosperity.

18And I say, Perished hath my strength and my hope from Jehovah.

19Remember my affliction and my mourning, Wormwood and gall!

20Remember well, and bow down doth my soul in me.

21This I turn to my heart — therefore I hope.

22The kindnesses of Jehovah! For we have not been consumed, For not ended have His mercies.

23New every morning, abundant is thy faithfulness.

24My portion is Jehovah, hath my soul said, Therefore I hope for Him.

25Good is Jehovah to those waiting for Him, To the soul that seeketh Him.

26Good! when one doth stay and stand still For the salvation of Jehovah.

27Good for a man that he beareth a yoke in his youth.

28He sitteth alone, and is silent, For He hath laid it upon him.

29He putteth in the dust his mouth, if so be there is hope.

30He giveth to his smiter the cheek, He is filled with reproach.

31For the Lord doth not cast off to the age.

32For though He afflicted, yet He hath pitied, According to the abundance of His kindness.

33For He hath not afflicted with His heart, Nor doth He grieve the sons of men.

34To bruise under one's feet any bound ones of earth,

35To turn aside the judgment of a man, Over-against the face of the Most High,

36To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord hath not approved.

37Who is this — he hath said, and it is, And the Lord hath not commanded it?

38From the mouth of the Most High Go not forth the evils and the good.

39What — sigh habitually doth a living man, A man for his sin?

40We search our ways, and investigate, And turn back unto Jehovah.

41We lift up our heart on the hands unto God in the heavens.

42We — we have transgressed and rebelled, Thou — Thou hast not forgiven.

43Thou hast covered Thyself with anger, And dost pursue us; Thou hast slain — Thou hast not pitied.

44Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, So that prayer doth not pass through.

45Offscouring and refuse Thou dost make us In the midst of the peoples.

46Opened against us their mouth have all our enemies.

47Fear and a snare hath been for us, Desolation and destruction.

48Rivulets of water go down my eye, For the destruction of the daughter of my people.

49Mine eye is poured out, And doth not cease without intermission,

50Till Jehovah looketh and seeth from the heavens,

51My eye affecteth my soul, Because of all the daughters of my city.

52Hunted me sore as a bird have my enemies without cause.

53They have cut off in a pit my life, And they cast a stone against me.

54Flowed have waters over my head, I have said, I have been cut off.

55I called Thy name, O Jehovah, from the lower pit.

56My voice Thou hast heard, Hide not Thine ear at my breathing — at my cry.

57Thou hast drawn near in the day I call Thee, Thou hast said, Fear not.

58Thou hast pleaded, O Lord, the pleadings of my soul, Thou hast redeemed my life.

59Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, my overthrow, Judge Thou my cause.

60Thou hast seen all their vengeance, All their thoughts of me.

61Thou hast heard their reproach, O Jehovah, All their thoughts against me,

62The lips of my withstanders, Even their meditation against me all the day.

63Their sitting down, and their rising up, Behold attentively, I am their song.

64Thou returnest to them the deed, O Jehovah, According to the work of their hands.

65Thou givest to them a covered heart, Thy curse to them.

66Thou pursuest in anger, and destroyest them, From under the heavens of Jehovah!