Lamentations 3:1-13

1I am the man who has experienced affliction from the rod of his wrath.

2He drove me into captivity and made me walk in darkness and not light.

3He repeatedly attacks me, he turns his hand against me all day long. ב (Bet)

4He has made my mortal skin waste away; he has broken my bones.

5He has besieged and surrounded me with bitter hardship.

6He has made me reside in deepest darkness like those who died long ago. ג (Gimel)

7He has walled me in so that I cannot get out; he has weighted me down with heavy prison chains.

8Also, when I cry out desperately for help, he has shut out my prayer.

9He has blocked every road I take with a wall of hewn stones; he has made every path impassable. ד (Dalet)

10To me he is like a bear lying in ambush, like a hidden lion stalking its prey.

11He has obstructed my paths and torn me to pieces; he has made me desolate.

12He drew his bow and made me the target for his arrow. ה (He)

13He shot his arrows into my heart.