Lamentations 3:1-36

1I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

2Me hath he led, and brought into darkness, and not into light.

3Surely against me hath he turned again and again his hand all the day.

4My flesh and my skin hath he wasted away, he hath broken my bones.

5He hath built against me, and encompassed [me] with gall and toil.

6He hath made me to dwell in dark places as those that have been long dead.

7He hath hedged me about that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.

8Even when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.

9He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.

10He is unto me [as] a bear lying in wait, a lion in secret places.

11He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate.

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

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

14I am become a derision to all my people; their song all the day.

15He hath sated me with bitterness, he hath made me drunk with wormwood.

16He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.

17And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I have forgotten prosperity.

18And I said, My strength is perished, and my hope in Jehovah.

19Remember thou mine affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and the gall.

20My soul hath [them] constantly in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

21— This I recall to heart, therefore have I hope.

22It is of Jehovah's loving-kindness we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not;

23they are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

24Jehovah is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

25Jehovah is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul [that] seeketh him.

26It is good that one should both wait, and that in silence, for the salvation of Jehovah.

27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth:

28He sitteth solitary and keepeth silence, because he hath laid it upon him;

29he putteth his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope;

30he giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him; he is filled full with reproach.

31For the Lord will not cast off for ever;

32but if he have caused grief, he will have compassion according to the multitude of his loving-kindnesses:

33for he doth not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.

34To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth,

35to turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High,

36to wrong a man in his cause, — will not the Lord see it?