Lamentations 3:1-36

1“I am the man who has experienced suffering under the rod of God’s fury.

2God has driven me away and made me walk in darkness instead of light.

3He beat me again and again all day long.

4He has made my flesh and my skin waste away. He has broken my bones.

5He has attacked me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.

6He has made me live in darkness, like those who died a long time ago.

7He has blocked me so that I can’t get out. He has put heavy chains on me.

8Even when I cry and call for help, he shuts out my prayer.

9He has blocked my way with cut stones and made my paths crooked.

10He is like a bear waiting to ambush me, like a lion in hiding.

11He has forced me off the road I was taking, torn me to pieces, and left me with nothing.

12He has drawn his bow and made me the target for his arrows.

13He has shot the arrows from his quiver into my heart.

14I have become a laughingstock to all my people. All day long ⌞they make fun of me⌟ with their songs.

15He has filled me with bitterness. He has made me drink wormwood.

16He has ground my teeth with gravel. He has trampled me into the dust.

17“My soul has been kept from enjoying peace. I have forgotten what happiness is.

18I said, ‘I’ve lost my strength ⌞to live⌟ and my hope in the Lord.’

19Remember my suffering and my ⌞aimless⌟ wandering, the wormwood and poison.

20My soul continues to remember ⌞these things⌟ and is so discouraged.

21“The reason I can ⌞still⌟ find hope is that I keep this one thing in mind:

22the Lord’s mercy. We were not completely wiped out. His compassion is never limited.

23It is new every morning. His faithfulness is great.

24My soul can say, ‘The Lord is my lot ⌞in life⌟. That is why I find hope in him.’

25The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to anyone who seeks help from him.

26“It is good to continue to hope and wait silently for the Lord to save us.

27It is good for people to endure burdens when they’re young.

28They should sit alone and remain silent because the Lord has laid these burdens on them.

29They should put their mouths in the dust. Maybe a reason to hope exists.

30They should turn their cheeks to the one who strikes them and take their fill of insults.

31“The Lord will not reject ⌞such⌟ people forever.

32Even if he makes us suffer, he will have compassion in keeping with the richness of his mercy.

33He does not willingly bring suffering or grief to anyone,

34crush any prisoner on earth underfoot,

35deny people their rights in the presence of the Most High God,

36or deprive people of justice in court. The Lord isn’t happy to see ⌞these things⌟.