LEB LAM Chapter 3

Israel’s Affliction

• 3 I am a man who has seen misery,
• under the rod of his wrath.
• 2 He has driven me along, he brought
  • darkness and not light.
• 3 Surely he has turned his hand against me,
  • all day long.
• 4 He has worn out my flesh and skin,
  • he has broken my bones.
• 5 He has besieged[fn] and engulfed me
  • with bitterness and hardship.
• 6 In darkness he has let me dwell
  • like the dead of long ago.
• 7 He has built a wall around me, I cannot go out;
  • he has made my bronze fetters heavy.
• 8 Though I cry out for help,
  • he shuts out my prayers.
• 9 He has blocked my ways with dressed stones;
  • he has made my paths crooked.
• 10 To me he is like a bear lying in wait,
  • a lion in hiding.
• 11 He has forsaken my way and torn me to pieces;
  • he has caused me desolation.
• 12 He has bent his bow and set me
  • as the target for the arrow.
• 13 He shot the arrows of his quiver[fn]
  • into my kidneys.
• 14 I have become a laughingstock for all the people,
  • their mocking song all day long.
• 15 He has filled me with bitterness,
  • he has drenched me with wormwood.
• 16 He has broken my teeth on grit,
  • he has trampled me down in ash.
• 17 My life has been removed from peace,
  • I have forgotten goodness.
• 18 And I have said, “My glory is ruined,
  • my expectation from Yahweh.”
• 19 Remember my misery and bitterness,
  • the wormwood[fn] and venom!
• 20 Surely my soul remembers
  • and bows down within me.
• 21 This I have reminded myself ,[fn]
  • therefore I will hope.
• 22 The loyal love of Yahweh does not cease;
  • his compassions do not come to an end.
• 23 They are new in the morning,
  • great is your faithfulness.
• 24 “Yahweh is my portion,”
  • says my soul,
    • “Thus I will hope on him.”
• 25 Yahweh is good to those who wait on him,
  • to the person that seeks him.
• 26 It is good to wait in silence
  • for the salvation of Yahweh.
• 27 It is good for a man who carries
  • the yoke of his childhood.
• 28 Let him sit alone and be silent
  • when he[fn] has laid it on him.
• 29 Let him put[fn] his mouth in the dust;
  • perhaps there is hope.
• 30 Let him give a cheek to his smiter,
  • let him be filled with disgrace.
• 31 For the Lord will not reject
  • forever.
• 32 For even though he causes grief he has compassion
  • according to the greatness of his royal love.
• 33 He does not afflict willingly ,[fn]
  • or grieve anyone .[fn]
• 34 To crush under his feet
  • all the prisoners of the earth;
• 35 to deprive one of justice[fn]
  • before the face of the Most High;
• 36 to subvert a person in a legal dispute
  • —the Lord has not found delight in these things.
• 37 Who can speak[fn] and it will happen
  • if the Lord has not commanded it?
• 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
  • that disaster and good will come?
• 39 Why should any living person complain
  • about his sin?
• 40 Let us test and examine our ways;
  • let us return to Yahweh.
• 41 Let us lift up our hearts with our hands
  • to God in the heavens.
• 42 We ourselves have transgressed and rebelled,
  • you have not forgiven.
• 43 You have covered yourself in anger[fn] and pursued us,
  • you have slain and not shown mercy.
• 44 You have covered yourself in a cloud
  • so that prayer cannot pass through .[fn]
• 45 You have made us scum and refuse
  • in the midst of the nations.
• 46 All our enemies
  • have opened their mouth against us.
• 47 Fear and a pit have come upon us,
  • desolation and destruction.
• 48 Channels of water run down my eyes
  • because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.
• 49 My eyes have poured down unceasingly
  • without respite,
• 50 until Yahweh looks down
  • and sees from heaven.
• 51 My eyes inflict my soul
  • because of all the daughters of my city.
• 52 My enemies hunt me without cause,
  • like a bird.
• 53 They have silenced me in a pit ,[fn]
  • they have thrown a stone at me.
• 54 Water has flown over my head,
  • I said, “I am cut off.”
• 55 I have called your name, O Yahweh,
  • from the depths of the pit.
• 56 You have heard my cry, “Do not shut your ear
  • to my cry for help, for my relief!”
• 57 You came near on a day when I called you,
  • you said, “Do not fear!”
• 58 O Lord, you have pleaded for my cause ,[fn]
  • you have redeemed my life.
• 59 You have seen my injustice, O Yahweh;
  • judge my case.
• 60 You have seen all their vengeance,
  • all there plans against me.
• 61 You have heard their disgrace, O Yahweh,
  • all their plans against me.
• 62 The lips and meditation of my assailants
  • are against me all day long.
• 63 Look at their sitting and their standing,
  • I am their mocking song.
• 64 Return to them what is deserved, O Yahweh,
  • according to the work of their hands.
• 65 Give them a stubborn heart;
  • curse them!
• 66 Pursue them in anger[fn] and destroy them
  • from under the heavens of Yahweh.