LEB - Lamentations - 3

3:1  I am a man who has seen misery, under the rod of his wrath.

3:2  He has driven me along, he brought darkness and not light.

3:3  Surely he has turned his hand against me, all day long.

3:4  He has worn out my flesh and skin, he has broken my bones.

3:5  ⌞He has besieged⌟ and engulfed me with bitterness and hardship.

3:6  In darkness he has let me dwell like the dead of long ago.

3:7  He has built a wall around me, I cannot go out; he has made my bronze fetters heavy.

3:8  Though I cry out for help, he shuts out my prayers.

3:9  He has blocked my ways with dressed stones; he has made my paths crooked.

3:10  To me he is like a bear lying in wait, a lion in hiding.

3:11  He has forsaken my way and torn me to pieces; he has caused me desolation.

3:12  He has bent his bow and set me as the target for the arrow.

3:13  He shot ⌞the arrows of his quiver⌟ into my kidneys.

3:14  I have become a laughingstock for all the people, their mocking song all day long.

3:15  He has filled me with bitterness, he has drenched me with wormwood.

3:16  He has broken my teeth on grit, he has trampled me down in ash.

3:17  My life has been removed from peace, I have forgotten goodness.

3:18  And I have said, “My glory is ruined, my expectation from Yahweh.”

3:19  Remember my misery and bitterness, the wormwood and venom!

3:20  Surely my soul remembers and bows down within me.

3:21  This ⌞I have reminded myself⌟, therefore I will hope.

3:22  The loyal love of Yahweh does not cease; his compassions do not come to an end.

3:23  They are new in the morning, great is your faithfulness.

3:24  “Yahweh is my portion,” says my soul, “Thus I will hope on him.”

3:25  Yahweh is good to those who wait on him, to the person that seeks him.

3:26  It is good to wait in silence for the salvation of Yahweh.

3:27  It is good for a man who carries the yoke of his childhood.

3:28  Let him sit alone and be silent when he has laid it on him.

3:29  Let ⌞him put⌟ his mouth in the dust; perhaps there is hope.

3:30  Let him give a cheek to his smiter, let him be filled with disgrace.

3:31  For the Lord will not reject forever.

3:32  For even though he causes grief he has compassion according to the greatness of his royal love.

3:33  He does not ⌞afflict willingly⌟, or grieve ⌞anyone⌟.

3:34  To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth;

3:35  ⌞to deprive one of justice⌟ before the face of the Most High;

3:36  to subvert a person in a legal dispute —the Lord has not found delight in these things.

3:37  ⌞Who can speak⌟ and it will happen if the Lord has not commanded it?

3:38  Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that disaster and good will come?

3:39  Why should any living person complain about his sin?

3:40  Let us test and examine our ways; let us return to Yahweh.

3:41  Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the heavens.

3:42  We ourselves have transgressed and rebelled, you have not forgiven.

3:43  You have covered yourself ⌞in anger⌟ and pursued us, you have slain and not shown mercy.

3:44  You have covered yourself in a cloud ⌞so that prayer cannot pass through⌟.

3:45  You have made us scum and refuse in the midst of the nations.

3:46  All our enemies have opened their mouth against us.

3:47  Fear and a pit have come upon us, desolation and destruction.

3:48  Channels of water run down my eyes because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.

3:49  My eyes have poured down unceasingly without respite,

3:50  until Yahweh looks down and sees from heaven.

3:51  My eyes inflict my soul because of all the daughters of my city.

3:52  My enemies hunt me without cause, like a bird.

3:53  ⌞They have silenced me in a pit⌟, they have thrown a stone at me.

3:54  Water has flown over my head, I said, “I am cut off.”

3:55  I have called your name, O Yahweh, from the depths of the pit.

3:56  You have heard my cry, “Do not shut your ear to my cry for help, for my relief!”

3:57  You came near on a day when I called you, you said, “Do not fear!”

3:58  O Lord, you have pleaded for ⌞my cause⌟, you have redeemed my life.

3:59  You have seen my injustice, O Yahweh; judge my case.

3:60  You have seen all their vengeance, all there plans against me.

3:61  You have heard their disgrace, O Yahweh, all their plans against me.

3:62  The lips and meditation of my assailants are against me all day long.

3:63  Look at their sitting and their standing, I am their mocking song.

3:64  Return to them what is deserved, O Yahweh, according to the work of their hands.

3:65  Give them a stubborn heart; curse them!

3:66  Pursue them ⌞in anger⌟ and destroy them from under the heavens of Yahweh.