Lamentations 3:1-66 NCV

[1] I am a man who has seen the suffering that comes from the rod of the LORD's anger. [2] He led me into darkness, not light. [3] He turned his hand against me again and again, all day long. [4] He wore out my flesh and skin and broke my bones. [5] He surrounded me with sadness and attacked me with grief. [6] He made me sit in the dark, like those who have been dead a long time. [7] He shut me in so I could not get out; he put heavy chains on me. [8] I cry out and beg for help, but he ignores my prayer. [9] He blocked my way with a stone wall and led me in the wrong direction. [10] He is like a bear ready to attack me, like a lion in hiding. [11] He led me the wrong way and let me stray and left me without help. [12] He prepared to shoot his bow and made me the target for his arrows. [13] He shot me in the kidneys with the arrows from his bag. [14] I was a joke to all my people, who make fun of me with songs all day long. [15] The LORD filled me with misery; he made me drunk with suffering. [16] He broke my teeth with gravel and trampled me into the dirt. [17] I have no more peace. I have forgotten what happiness is. [18] I said, "My strength is gone, and I have no hope in the LORD." [19] LORD, remember my suffering and my misery, my sorrow and trouble. [20] Please remember me and think about me. [21] But I have hope when I think of this: [22] The LORD's love never ends; his mercies never stop. [23] They are new every morning; LORD, your loyalty is great. [24] I say to myself, "The LORD is mine, so I hope in him." [25] The LORD is good to those who hope in him, to those who seek him. [26] It is good to wait quietly for the LORD to save. [27] It is good for someone to work hard while he is young. [28] He should sit alone and be quiet; the LORD has given him hard work to do. [29] He should bow down to the ground; maybe there is still hope. [30] He should let anyone slap his cheek; he should be filled with shame. [31] The Lord will not reject his people forever. [32] Although he brings sorrow, he also has mercy and great love. [33] He does not like to punish people or make them sad. [34] He sees if any prisoner of the earth is crushed under his feet; [35] he sees if someone is treated unfairly before the Most High God; [36] the Lord sees if someone is cheated in his case in court. [37] Nobody can speak and have it happen unless the Lord commands it. [38] Both bad and good things come by the command of the Most High God. [39] No one should complain when he is punished for his sins. [40] Let us examine and see what we have done and then return to the LORD. [41] Let us lift up our hands and pray from our hearts to God in heaven: [42] "We have sinned and turned against you, and you have not forgiven us. [43] "You wrapped yourself in anger and chased us; you killed us without mercy. [44] You wrapped yourself in a cloud, and no prayer could get through. [45] You made us like scum and trash among the other nations. [46] "All of our enemies open their mouths and speak against us. [47] We have been frightened and fearful, ruined and destroyed." [48] Streams of tears flow from my eyes, because my people are destroyed. [49] My tears flow continually, without stopping, [50] until the LORD looks down and sees from heaven. [51] I am sad when I see what has happened to all the women of my city. [52] Those who are my enemies for no reason hunted me like a bird. [53] They tried to kill me in a pit; they threw stones at me. [54] Water came up over my head, and I said, "I am going to die." [55] I called out to you, LORD, from the bottom of the pit. [56] You heard me calling, "Do not close your ears and ignore my gasps and shouts." [57] You came near when I called to you; you said, "Don't be afraid." [58] Lord, you have taken my case and given me back my life. [59] LORD, you have seen how I have been wronged. Now judge my case for me. [60] You have seen how my enemies took revenge on me and made evil plans against me. [61] LORD, you have heard their insults and all their evil plans against me. [62] The words and thoughts of my enemies are against me all the time. [63] Look! In everything they do they make fun of me with songs. [64] Pay them back, LORD, for what they have done. [65] Make them stubborn, and put your curse on them. [66] Chase them in anger, LORD, and destroy them from under your heavens.