Lamentations 3

1

I Am the man that hath seene affliction by the rod of his wrath.

2

He hath led me and brought mee into darkenesse, but not into light.

3

Surely against me is he turned, he turneth his hand against me all the day.

4

My flesh and my skinne hath he made old, he hath broken my bones.

5

He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and trauel.

6

He hath set me in darke places, as they that be dead of old.

7

He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: hee hath made my chaine heauie.

8

Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.

9

Hee hath inclosed my wayes with hewen stone: he hath made my pathes crooked.

10

He was vnto me as a Beare lying in waite, and as a Lion in secret places.

11

Hee hath turned aside my wayes, and pulled me in pieces: hee hath made me desolate.

12

He hath bent his bow, and set me as a marke for the arrow.

13

Hee hath caused the arrowes of his quiuer to enter into my reines.

14

I was a derision to all my people, and their song all the day.

15

Hee hath filled me with bitternesse, hee hath made me drunken with wormewood.

16

He hath also broken my teeth with grauell stones, hee hath couered me with ashes.

17

And thou hast remoued my soule farre off from peace: I forgate prosperitie.

18

And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:

19

Remembring mine affliction and my miserie, the wormewood & the gall.

20

My soule hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

21

This I recall to my mind, therefore haue I hope.

22

¶ It is of the LORDs mercies that wee are not consumed, because his compassions faile not.

23

They are newe euery morning: great is thy faithfulnesse.

24

The LORD is my portion, sayth my soule, therefore will I hope in him.

25

The LORD is good vnto them that waite for him, to the soule that seeketh him.

26

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the saluation of the LORD.

27

It is good for a man that he beare the yoke in his youth.

28

Hee sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because hee hath borne it vpon him.

29

He putteth his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope.

30

Hee giueth his cheeke to him that smiteth him, hee is filled full with reproch.

31

For the Lord will not cast off for euer.

32

But though hee cause griefe, yet will hee haue compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

33

For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieue the children of men.

34

To crush vnder his feete all the prisoners of the earth,

35

To turne aside the right of a man before the face of the most high,

36

To subuert a man in his cause, the Lord approoueth not.

37

¶ Who is hee that sayth, and it commeth to passe, when the Lord commandeth it not?

38

Out of the mouth of the most hie proceedeth not euill and good?

39

Wherefore doeth a liuing man complaine, a man for the punishment of his sinnes?

40

Let vs search and try our waies, and turne againe to the LORD.

41

Let vs lift vp our heart with our hands vnto God in the heauens.

42

We haue transgressed, and haue rebelled, thou hast not pardoned.

43

Thou hast couered with anger, and persecuted vs: thou hast slaine, thou hast not pitied.

44

Thou hast couered thy selfe with a cloud, that our prayer should not passe through.

45

Thou hast made vs as the offscouring and refuse in the middest of the people.

46

All our enemies haue opened their mouthes against vs.

47

Feare and a snare is come vpon vs, desolation and destruction.

48

Mine eye runneth downe with riuers of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

49

Mine eye trickleth downe and ceaseth not, without any intermission:

50

Till the LORD looke downe, and behold from heauen.

51

Mine eye affecteth mine heart, because of all the daughters of my city.

52

Mine enemies chased me sore like a bird, without cause.

53

They haue cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone vpon me.

54

Waters flowed ouer mine head, then I sayd, I am cut off.

55

¶ I called vpon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.

56

Thou hast heard my voice, hide not thine eare at my breathing, at my crie.

57

Thou drewest neere in the day that I called vpon thee: thou saidst, Feare not.

58

O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soule, thou hast redeemed my life.

59

O LORD, thou hast seene my wrong, iudge thou my cause.

60

Thou hast seene all their vengeance; and all their imaginations against me.

61

Thou hast heard their reproch, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me:

62

The lippes of those that rose vp against me, and their deuice against me all the day.

63

Behold, their sitting downe and their rising vp, I am their musicke.

64

¶ Render vnto them a recompense, O LORD, according to the worke of their hands.

65

Giue them sorrow of heart, thy curse vnto them.

66

Persecute and destroy them in anger, from vnder the heauens of the LORD.