Lamentations 3:1-40 ▼

1 I am a man familiar with affliction— under the rod of God's anger.

2 He has led me—brought me into darkness, not into light.

3 He truly turned his hand against me, again and again, all day long.

4 He made my flesh and skin prematurely old; he broke my bones.

5 He laid siege against me, surrounding me with bitterness and suffering.

6 He has forced me to live in darkness, like those who are long dead.

7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he placed heavy chains on me.

8 Indeed, when I cry out, calling for help, he shuts out my prayer.

9 He impeded my way with blocks of stone, making my paths uneven.

10 He is like a bear that lies in wait for me, a lion in hiding.

11 He forced me off my path, tearing me to pieces and making me desolate.

12 He bent his bow, aiming at me with his arrow.

13 He caused his war arrows to pierce my vital organs.

14 I have become a laughingstock to all my people, the object of their taunts throughout the day.

15 He has filled me with bitterness, making me drink wormwood.

16 He broke my teeth on gravel, covering me with dust.

17 You have removed peace from my life; I have forgotten what prosperity is.

18 So I say, |My strength is gone as is my hope in the LORD.|

19 Remember my affliction and homelessness— wormwood and gall!

20 My mind keeps reflecting on it, and I become depressed.

21 This is what comes to mind, and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the LORD's gracious love we are not consumed, since his compassions never end.

23 They are new every morning— great is your faithfulness!

24 |The LORD is all I have,| says my soul, |Therefore I will trust in him.|

25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the person who searches for him.

26 It is good to hope and wait patiently for the LORD's salvation.

27 It is good when a young man carries the yoke of discipline in his youth.

28 He is to sit apart and remain silent, because the LORD has laid it upon him.

29 Let him fall face down in the dust, so there may yet be hope.

30 He will endure being slapped in the face, bringing him public disgrace.

31 Indeed, the Lord will not always reject us —

32 though he causes grief, his compassion abounds according to his gracious love.

33 For he does not deliberately hurt or grieve human beings.

34 When any of the prisoners of the earth are crushed underfoot,

35 when a person's rights are perverted in defiance of the Most High.

36 When a man is thwarted in his appeal, does the Lord condone it?

37 Who can command, and it happens, without the Lord having ordered it?

38 Do not both good and evil things proceed from the mouth of the Most High?

39 Why should anyone living complain, any mortal, about being punished for sin?

40 Let us examine our lifestyles, putting them to the test, and turn back to the LORD.