Lamentations 3:1-38

I am a man who has seen the suffering that comes from the rod of the LORD’s anger. He led me into darkness, not light. He turned his hand against me again and again, all day long. He wore out my flesh and skin and broke my bones. He surrounded me with sadness and attacked me with grief. He made me sit in the dark, like those who have been dead a long time. He shut me in so I could not get out; he put heavy chains on me. I cry out and beg for help, but he ignores my prayer. He blocked my way with a stone wall and led me in the wrong direction. He is like a bear ready to attack me, like a lion in hiding. He led me the wrong way and let me stray and left me without help. He prepared to shoot his bow and made me the target for his arrows. He shot me in the kidneys with the arrows from his bag. I was a joke to all my people, who make fun of me with songs all day long. The LORD filled me with misery; he made me drunk with suffering. He broke my teeth with gravel and trampled me into the dirt. I have no more peace. I have forgotten what happiness is. I said, “My strength is gone, and I have no hope in the LORD.” LORD, remember my suffering and my misery, my sorrow and trouble. Please remember me and think about me. But I have hope when I think of this: The LORD’s love never ends; his mercies never stop. They are new every morning; LORD, your loyalty is great. I say to myself, “The LORD is mine, so I hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who hope in him, to those who seek him. It is good to wait quietly for the LORD to save. It is good for someone to work hard while he is young. He should sit alone and be quiet; the LORD has given him hard work to do. He should bow down to the ground; maybe there is still hope. He should let anyone slap his cheek; he should be filled with shame. The Lord will not reject his people forever. Although he brings sorrow, he also has mercy and great love. He does not like to punish people or make them sad. He sees if any prisoner of the earth is crushed under his feet; he sees if someone is treated unfairly before the Most High God; the Lord sees if someone is cheated in his case in court. Nobody can speak and have it happen unless the Lord commands it. Both bad and good things come by the command of the Most High God.