LEB LAM Chapter 3

Israel’s Affliction

• 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 to 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.