Lamentations 3:26-47

26It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

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

28Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him;

29let him put his mouth in the dust— there may yet be hope;

30let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults.

31For the Lord will not cast off forever,

32but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love;

33for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men.

34To crush underfoot all the prisoners of the earth,

35to deny a man justice in the presence of the Most High,

36to subvert a man in his lawsuit, the Lord does not approve.

37Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?

38Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?

39Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins?

40Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!

41Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven:

42"We have transgressed and rebelled, and you have not forgiven.

43"You have wrapped yourself with anger and pursued us, killing without pity;

44you have wrapped yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through.

45You have made us scum and garbage among the peoples.

46"All our enemies open their mouths against us;

47panic and pitfall have come upon us, devastation and destruction;