Lamentations3
Israel’s Affliction
1I am a man who has seen misery,under the rod of his wrath.2He has driven me along, he broughtdarkness and not light.3Surely he has turned his hand against me,all day long.4He has worn out my flesh and skin,he has broken my bones.5⸤He has besieged⸥ and engulfed mewith bitterness and hardship.6In darkness he has let me dwelllike the dead of long ago.7He has built a wall around me, I cannot go out;he has made my bronze fetters heavy.8Though I cry out for help,he shuts out my prayers.9He has blocked my ways with dressed stones;he has made my paths crooked.10To me he is like a bear lying in wait,a lion in hiding.11He has forsaken my way and torn me to pieces;he has caused me desolation.12He has bent his bow and set meas the target for the arrow.13He shot ⸤the arrows of his quiver⸥ into my kidneys.14I have become a laughingstock for all the people,their mocking song all day long.15He has filled me with bitterness,he has drenched me with wormwood.16He has broken my teeth on grit,he has trampled me down in ash.17My life has been removed from peace,I have forgotten goodness.18And I have said, “My glory is ruined,my expectation from Yahweh.”19Remember my misery and bitterness,the wormwood and venom!20Surely my soul remembersand bows down within me.21This ⸤I have reminded myself⸥, therefore I will hope.22The loyal love of Yahweh does not cease;his compassions do not come to an end.23They are new in the morning,great is your faithfulness.24“Yahweh is my portion,”says my soul,“Thus I will hope on him.”25Yahweh is good to those who wait on him,to the person that seeks him.26It is good to wait in silencefor the salvation of Yahweh.27It is good for a man who carriesthe yoke of his childhood.28Let him sit alone and be silentwhen he has laid it on him.29Let ⸤him put⸥ his mouth in the dust;perhaps there is hope.30Let him give a cheek to his smiter,let him be filled with disgrace.31For the Lord will not rejectforever.32For even though he causes grief he has compassionaccording to the greatness of his royal love.33He does not ⸤afflict willingly⸥, or grieve ⸤anyone⸥. 34To crush under his feetall the prisoners of the earth;35⸤to deprive one of justice⸥ before the face of the Most High;36to subvert a person in a legal dispute—the Lord has not found delight in these things.37⸤Who can speak⸥ and it will happenif the Lord has not commanded it?38Is it not from the mouth of the Most Highthat disaster and good will come?39Why should any living person complainabout his sin?40Let us test and examine our ways;let us return to Yahweh.41Let us lift up our hearts with our handsto God in the heavens.42We ourselves have transgressed and rebelled,you have not forgiven.43You have covered yourself ⸤in anger⸥ and pursued us,you have slain and not shown mercy.44You have covered yourself in a cloud⸤so that prayer cannot pass through⸥. 45You have made us scum and refusein the midst of the nations.46All our enemieshave opened their mouth against us.47Fear and a pit have come upon us,desolation and destruction.48Channels of water run down my eyesbecause of the destruction of the daughter of my people.49My eyes have poured down unceasinglywithout respite,50until Yahweh looks downand sees from heaven.51My eyes inflict my soulbecause of all the daughters of my city.52My enemies hunt me without cause,like a bird.53⸤They have silenced me in a pit⸥, they have thrown a stone at me.54Water has flown over my head,I said, “I am cut off.”55I have called your name, O Yahweh,from the depths of the pit.56You have heard my cry, “Do not shut your earto my cry for help, for my relief!”57You came near on a day when I called you,you said, “Do not fear!”58O Lord, you have pleaded for ⸤my cause⸥, you have redeemed my life.59You have seen my injustice, O Yahweh;judge my case.60You have seen all their vengeance,all their plans against me.61You have heard their disgrace, O Yahweh,all their plans against me.62The lips and meditation of my assailantsare against me all day long.63Look at their sitting and their standing,I am their mocking song.64Return to them what is deserved, O Yahweh,according to the work of their hands.65Give them a stubborn heart;curse them!66Pursue them ⸤in anger⸥ and destroy themfrom under the heavens of Yahweh.Logos Bible Software