Lamentations 3:1-13 ▼

1 I am the man who has experienced affliction from the rod of his wrath.

2 He drove me into captivity and made me walk in darkness and not light.

3 He repeatedly attacks me, he turns his hand against me all day long.

4 He has made my mortal skin waste away; he has broken my bones.

5 He has besieged and surrounded me with bitter hardship.

6 He has made me reside in deepest darkness like those who died long ago.

7 He has walled me in so that I cannot get out; he has weighted me down with heavy prison chains.

8 Also, when I cry out desperately for help, he has shut out my prayer.

9 He has blocked every road I take with a wall of hewn stones; he has made every path impassable.

10 To me he is like a bear lying in ambush, like a hidden lion stalking its prey.

11 He has obstructed my paths and torn me to pieces; he has made me desolate.

12 He drew his bow and made me the target for his arrow.

13 He shot his arrows into my heart.