Lamentations 3:1-66 ASV

[1] I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. [2] He hath led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light. [3] Surely against me he turneth his hand again and again all the day. [4] My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones. [5] He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail. [6] He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead. [7] He hath walled me about, that I cannot go forth; he hath made my chain heavy. [8] Yea, when I cry, and call for help, he shutteth out my prayer. [9] He hath walled up my ways with hewn stone; he hath made my paths crooked. [10] He is unto me as a bear lying in wait, as a lion in secret places. [11] He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate. [12] He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. [13] He hath caused the shafts of his quiver to enter into my reins. [14] I am become a derision to all my people, and their song all the day. [15] He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath sated me with wormwood. [16] He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones; he hath covered me with ashes. [17] And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace; I forgat prosperity. [18] And I said, My strength is perished, and mine expectation from Jehovah. [19] Remember mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. [20] My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is bowed down within me. [21] This I recall to my mind; therefore have I hope. [22] It is of Jehovah's lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. [24] Jehovah is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. [25] Jehovah is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. [26] It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Jehovah. [27] It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. [28] Let him sit alone and keep silence, because he hath laid it upon him. [29] Let him put his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope. [30] Let him give his cheek to him that smiteth him; let him be filled full with reproach. [31] For the Lord will not cast off for ever. [32] For though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. [33] For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. [34] To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth, [35] To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High, [36] To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not. [37] Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? [38] Out of the mouth of the Most High cometh there not evil and good? [39] Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? [40] Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah. [41] Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. [42] We have transgressed and have rebelled; thou hast not pardoned. [43] Thou hast covered with anger and pursued us; thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied. [44] Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through. [45] Thou hast made us an offscouring and refuse in the midst of the peoples. [46] All our enemies have opened their mouth wide against us. [47] Fear and the pit are come upon us, devastation and destruction. [48] Mine eye runneth down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people. [49] Mine eye poureth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission, [50] Till Jehovah look down, and behold from heaven. [51] Mine eye affecteth my soul, because of all the daughters of my city. [52] They have chased me sore like a bird, they that are mine enemies without cause. [53] They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and have cast a stone upon me. [54] Waters flowed over my head; I said, I am cut off. [55] I called upon thy name, O Jehovah, out of the lowest dungeon. [56] Thou heardest my voice; hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. [57] Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee; thou saidst, Fear not. [58] O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life. [59] O Jehovah, thou hast seen my wrong; judge thou my cause. [60] Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their devices against me. [61] Thou hast heard their reproach, O Jehovah, and all their devices against me, [62] The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day. [63] Behold thou their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their song. [64] Thou wilt render unto them a recompense, O Jehovah, according to the work of their hands. [65] Thou wilt give them hardness of heart, thy curse unto them. [66] Thou wilt pursue them in anger, and destroy them from under the heavens of Jehovah.