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 broughtdarkness 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 mewith bitterness and hardship.
  • 6 In darkness he has let me dwelllike 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 meas 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 remembersand 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 silencefor the salvation of Yahweh.
  • 27 It is good for a man who carriesthe yoke of his childhood.
  • 28 Let him sit alone and be silentwhen 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 rejectforever.
  • 32 For even though he causes grief he has compassionaccording to the greatness of his royal love.
  • 33 He does not afflict willingly ,[fn]or grieve anyone .[fn]
  • 34 To crush under his feetall 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 happenif the Lord has not commanded it?
  • 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most Highthat disaster and good will come?
  • 39 Why should any living person complainabout his sin?
  • 40 Let us test and examine our ways;let us return to Yahweh.
  • 41 Let us lift up our hearts with our handsto 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 cloudso that prayer cannot pass through .[fn]
  • 45 You have made us scum and refusein the midst of the nations.
  • 46 All our enemieshave opened their mouth against us.
  • 47 Fear and a pit have come upon us,desolation and destruction.
  • 48 Channels of water run down my eyesbecause of the destruction of the daughter of my people.
  • 49 My eyes have poured down unceasinglywithout respite,
  • 50 until Yahweh looks downand sees from heaven.
  • 51 My eyes inflict my soulbecause 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 earto 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 assailantsare 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 themfrom under the heavens of Yahweh.