Lamentations 3:1-13 ▼

1 ALEPH. I am the man that sees poverty, through the rod of his wrath upon me.

2 He has taken me, and led me away into darkness, and not into light.

3 Nay, against me has he turned his hand all the day.

4 He has made old my flesh and my skin; he has broken my bones.

5 BETH. He has built against me, and compassed my head, and brought travail upon me .

6 He has set me in dark places, as them that have long been dead.

7 He has builded against me, and I cannot come forth: he has made my brazen chain heavy.

8 GIMEL. Yea, though I cry and shout, he shuts out my prayer.

9 DALETH. He has built up my ways, he has hedged my paths;

10 he has troubled me, as a she-bear lying in wait: he is to me as a lion in secret places.

11 He pursued me after I departed, and brought me to a stand: he has utterly ruined me.

12 HE. He has bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.

13 He has caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.