Lamentations 3

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1. 1I am the man who has experienced suffering under the rod of his wrath.
2. 2He has led me and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
3. 3Surely he has turned against me; he turns his hand against me all day long.
4. 4He has worn away my flesh and skin. He has shattered my bones.
5. 5He has built siege works against me, surrounding me with bitterness and hardship.
6. 6He has made me live in darkness, like those who died long ago.
7. 7He has walled me in so I can't escape. He has weighed me down with heavy chains.
8. 8Even when I cry out and beg for help, he shuts out my prayer.
9. 9He has blocked my path with walls of cut stone and made my roads crooked.
10. 10He has been like a bear lying in ambush, like a lion hiding in secret places.
11. 11He turned me off my path and tore me apart; he made me desolate.
12. 12He drew his bow and made me the target for his arrows.
13. 13He shot the arrows from his quiver deep into my inward parts.
14. 14I've become a joke to all my people — they mock me in song all day long.
15. 15He has filled me with bitterness and made me drunk with wormwood.
16. 16He has broken my teeth with gravel stones and covered me with ashes.
17. 17You have taken my soul far from peace; I have forgotten what it is like to live well.
18. 18So I said, "My strength is gone, and so is every hope I had from the LORD."
19. 19Remembering my affliction and my misery — the wormwood and the gall.
20. 20My soul still remembers them and is humbled within me.
21. 21But then I call this to mind, and it gives me hope:
22. 22It is because of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, for his compassion never fails.
23. 23They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness!
24. 24"The LORD is all I have," my soul declares. "That's why I will put my hope in him."
25. 25The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.
26. 26It is good to hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
27. 27It is good for a person to bear the yoke while still young.
28. 28He sits alone and remains silent, because he has carried it.
29. 29He puts his mouth in the dust; perhaps there is hope.
30. 30He gives his cheek to the one who strikes him; he is filled with disgrace.
31. 31For the LORD will not abandon forever:
32. 32Even though he brings grief, he will show compassion because his mercy is so great.
33. 33For he does not afflict or grieve the children of men willingly.
34. 34To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,
35. 35To deny a man's rights before the face of the Most High,
36. 36To deny a person justice in their case, the Lord does not approve.
37. 37Who can speak something into existence unless the Lord commands it?
38. 38Don't both disaster and blessing come from the mouth of the Most High?
39. 39Why should any living person complain when they're being punished for their own sins?
40. 40Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD.
41. 41Let us lift up our heart with our hands to God in the heavens.
42. 42We have transgressed and rebelled, and you have not pardoned us.
43. 43You have covered yourself with anger and persecuted us; you have killed without pity.
44. 44You have covered yourself with a cloud so that our prayers cannot get through.
45. 45You have made us like scum and refuse among the people.
46. 46All our enemies have opened their mouths wide against us.
47. 47Fear and a snare have come upon us — desolation and destruction.
48. 48Rivers of tears pour from my eyes over the destruction of my people.
49. 49My tears flow without stopping, without any relief,
50. 50until the LORD looks down and sees us from heaven.
51. 51My eyes affect my heart because of all the daughters of my city.
52. 52My enemies hunted me relentlessly, like a bird, for no reason at all.
53. 53They cut off my life in the pit and threw a stone on me.
54. 54Water rose over my head; then I said, I am cut off.
55. 55I called on your name, LORD, from the depths of that pit.
56. 56You heard my voice; do not close your ear to my breathing, to my cry.
57. 57You came close the day I called out to you. You said, "Don't be afraid."
58. 58LORD, you have pleaded the causes of my soul; you have redeemed my life.
59. 59LORD, you have seen the injustice done to me. Stand as my judge.
60. 60You have seen how they've taken revenge on me and all their schemes against me.
61. 61You have heard their insults, LORD, and all their plots against me —
62. 62the constant whispering of my attackers and their schemes against me all day long.
63. 63Watch them — whether they sit or stand, I am the butt of their mocking songs.
64. 64Pay them back, LORD, for what their hands have done.
65. 65Give them sorrow of heart; your curse be upon them.
66. 66Pursue them in anger and wipe them out from under the LORD's heavens.