Lamentations 3:1-38 ▼

1 I am the man that thorowe the rodde of his wrath haue experience of miserie.

2 He droue me foorth and led me, yea into darknesse, but not into light.

3 Against me is he turned, he turneth his hande dayly against me.

4 My flesh and my skinne hath he made olde, and my bones hath he bruised.

5 He hath buylded rounde about me, and closed me in with gall and trauaile.

6 He hath set me in darknesse, as they that be dead for euer.

7 He hath so hedged me in, that I can not get out, and hath layde heauie linkes vpon me.

8 Though I crye and call pitiously, yet heareth he not my prayer.

9 He hath stopped vp my wayes with foure squared stones, and made my pathes crooked.

10 He layeth wayte for me lyke a beare, and as a lion in a hole.

11 He hath marred my wayes, and broken me in peeces, he hath layde me waste altogether.

12 He hath bent his bowe, and made me as it were a marke to shoote at.

13 The arrowes of his quiuer hath he shot, euen into my reynes.

14 I am laughed to scorne of all my people, they make songues vpon me all the day long.

15 He hath filled me with bitternesse, and geuen me wormewood to drinke.

16 He hath smitten my teeth in peeces with stones, and roulled me in the dust.

17 He hath put my soule out of rest, I forget all good thinges.

18 I thought in my selfe, I am vndone, there is no hope for me in the Lorde.

19 O remember yet my miserie and my trouble, the wormewood and the gall.

20 Yea thou shalt remember them, for my soule melteth away in me.

21 Whyle I consider these thinges in my heart, I get a hope agayne.

22 namely it is of the Lordes mercies that we are not vtterly consumed, for truely his pitifull compassion hath not ceassed.

23 Newe mercyes shall the Lord shewe vpon thee early in the day springing, (O Lorde) great is thy faythfulnesse.

24 The Lorde is my portion saith my soule therefore wyll I hope in hym.

25 O howe good is the Lord vnto them that put their trust in hym, and to the soule that seeketh after hym.

26 The good man with stilnesse and pacience, taryeth for the health of the Lorde.

27 O howe good is it for a man to take the yoke vpon him from his youth vp?

28 He sitteth alone, he holdeth hym styll, because he hath taken the Lordes yoke vpon hym.

29 He layeth his face vpon the earth, if there happen to be any hope.

30 He offreth his cheeke to the smyter, he wyll be content with reproffes:

31 For the Lord wil not forsake for euer.

32 But though he punishe, yet according to the multitude of his mercies he receaueth to grace agayne.

33 For he doth not plague willingly, and afflict the chyldren of men,

34 To treade all the prysoners of the earth vnder his feete,

35 To moue the iudgement of man before the most highest,

36 To condemne a man in his cause: the Lord hath not pleasure in such thinges.

37 What is he then that saith, there should some thing be done without the Lordes commaundement?

38 Out of the mouth of the most highest goeth not euyll and good?