Lamentations 3

1 I am a man familiar with affliction— under the rod of God’s ^{a3:1 Lit. his} anger.ISV — Lamentations 3:1

2 He has led me—brought me into darkness, not into light.ISV — Lamentations 3:2

3 He truly turned his hand against me, again and again, all day long.ISV — Lamentations 3:3

4 He made my flesh and skin prematurely old; he broke my bones.ISV — Lamentations 3:4

5 He laid siege against me, surrounding me with bitterness and suffering.ISV — Lamentations 3:5

6 He has forced me to live in darkness, like those who are long dead.ISV — Lamentations 3:6

7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he placed heavy chains on me.ISV — Lamentations 3:7

8 Indeed, when I cry out, calling for help, he shuts out my prayer.ISV — Lamentations 3:8

9 He impeded my way with blocks of stone, making my paths uneven.ISV — Lamentations 3:9

10 He is like ^{b3:10 The Heb. lacks like} a bear that lies in wait for me, a lion in hiding.ISV — Lamentations 3:10

11 He forced me off my path, tearing me to pieces and making me desolate.ISV — Lamentations 3:11

12 He bent his bow, aiming at me with his arrow.ISV — Lamentations 3:12

13 He caused his war arrows ^{c3:13 Lit. caused the sons of his arrows} to pierce my vital organs.ISV — Lamentations 3:13

14 I have become a laughingstock to all my people, the object of their taunts throughout the day.ISV — Lamentations 3:14

15 He has filled me with bitterness, making me drink wormwood.ISV — Lamentations 3:15

16 He broke my teeth on gravel, covering me with dust.ISV — Lamentations 3:16

17 You have removed peace from my life; I have forgotten what prosperity is. ^{d3:17 Lit. forgotten prosperity}ISV — Lamentations 3:17

18 So I say, “My strength is gone as is my hope in the LORD.”ISV — Lamentations 3:18

19 Remember my affliction and homelessness— wormwood and gall!ISV — Lamentations 3:19

20 My mind keeps reflecting on it, and I become depressed. ^{e3:20 Lit. and sinks within me}ISV — Lamentations 3:20

21 This is what comes to mind, and therefore I have hope:ISV — Lamentations 3:21

22 Because of the LORD’s gracious love we are not consumed, since his compassions never end.ISV — Lamentations 3:22

23 They are new every morning— great is your faithfulness!ISV — Lamentations 3:23

24 “The LORD is all I have,” ^{f3:24 Lit. is my portion} says my soul, “Therefore I will trust in him.”ISV — Lamentations 3:24

25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the person who searches for him.ISV — Lamentations 3:25

26 It is good to hope and wait patiently for the LORD’s salvation.ISV — Lamentations 3:26

27 It is good when a young man carries the yoke of discipline ^{g3:27 The Heb. lacks of discipline} in his youth.ISV — Lamentations 3:27

28 He is to sit apart and remain silent, because the LORD ^{h3:28 Lit. because he} has laid it upon him.ISV — Lamentations 3:28

29 Let him fall face down in the dust, so there may yet be hope.ISV — Lamentations 3:29

30 He will endure being slapped in the face, bringing him public disgrace.ISV — Lamentations 3:30

31 Indeed, the Lord will not always reject us ^{i3:31 The Heb. lacks us} —ISV — Lamentations 3:31

32 though he causes grief, his compassion abounds according to his gracious love.ISV — Lamentations 3:32

33 For he does not deliberately hurt or grieve human beings.ISV — Lamentations 3:33

34 When any of the prisoners of the earth are crushed underfoot,ISV — Lamentations 3:34

35 when a person’s rights are perverted in defiance of the Most High.ISV — Lamentations 3:35

36 When a man is thwarted in his appeal, does the Lord condone ^{j3:36 Lit. see} it?ISV — Lamentations 3:36

37 Who can command, and it happens, without the Lord having ordered it?ISV — Lamentations 3:37

38 Do not both good and evil things proceed from the mouth of the Most High?ISV — Lamentations 3:38

39 Why should anyone living complain, any mortal, about being punished for sin?ISV — Lamentations 3:39

40 Let us examine our lifestyles, putting them to the test, and turn back to the LORD.ISV — Lamentations 3:40

41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven.ISV — Lamentations 3:41

42 As for us, we have sinned and rebelled; but you have not pardoned us. ^{k3:42 The Heb. lacks us}ISV — Lamentations 3:42

43 Clothing yourself with anger, you pursued us. You killed without pity,ISV — Lamentations 3:43

44 You covered yourself with a cloud that prayer cannot pierce.ISV — Lamentations 3:44

45 You have reduced us to scum and garbage among the nations. ^{l3:45 Or peoples}ISV — Lamentations 3:45

46 All our enemies jeer at us with gaping mouths.ISV — Lamentations 3:46

47 Panic and pitfalls beset us, along with devastation and ruin.ISV — Lamentations 3:47

48 My eyes run with rivers of tears over the destruction of my cherished ^{m3:48 Lit. of the daughter of} people.ISV — Lamentations 3:48

49 My tears pour ^{n3:49 Lit. My eye pours} down ceaselessly; I am far from reliefISV — Lamentations 3:49

50 until the LORD bends down to see from heaven.ISV — Lamentations 3:50

51 What I see ^{o3:51 Lit. My eye} grieves my soul because of all the young women ^{p3:51 Lit. the daughters} of my city.ISV — Lamentations 3:51

52 My enemies hunted me like a bird, viciously and without justification.ISV — Lamentations 3:52

53 They dumped me alive into a pit, sealing me in with stone. ^{q3:53 Lit. pit, casting a stone at me}ISV — Lamentations 3:53

54 Water closed over my head, and I said, “I’m a dead man.” ^{r3:54 Lit. “I’m cut off.”}ISV — Lamentations 3:54

55 I called on your name, LORD, from the depths of the Pit, ^{s3:55 i.e. the place of punishment in the afterlife}ISV — Lamentations 3:55

56 You heard my voice— don’t close your ear to my sighs and cries. ^{t3:56 Lit. my relief, to my cry}ISV — Lamentations 3:56

57 You drew near when I called out to you. You said, “Stop being afraid”ISV — Lamentations 3:57

58 Lord, you have defended my cause; you have redeemed my life.ISV — Lamentations 3:58

59 LORD, you observed how I have been wronged; now make your ruling in my case.ISV — Lamentations 3:59

60 You examined their plans for vengeance, all of their plots against me.ISV — Lamentations 3:60

61 LORD, you listened to their insults— all their plots against me,ISV — Lamentations 3:61

62 the whisperings of my opponents, their scheming against me all day long.ISV — Lamentations 3:62

63 Watch! Whether they sit down or stand up, they mock me with their songs.ISV — Lamentations 3:63

64 Pay them back, LORD, according to their actions.ISV — Lamentations 3:64

65 Give them an anguished heart; may your curse be upon them!ISV — Lamentations 3:65

66 Pursue them in your anger and destroy them from under the LORD’s heaven.ISV — Lamentations 3:66