Lamentations 3

The Man Who Saw Affliction

1 I am the man who has seen suffering under the rod of the LORD’s anger.

2 He led me into darkness, not light.

3 For real, He keeps turning His hand against me all day long.

4 He wore my flesh and skin down and crushed my bones.

5 He boxed me in with bitterness and hard labor.

6 He made me live in dark places, like people long dead.

Cut Off and Trapped

7 He walled me in so I cannot escape. He chained me up heavy.

8 Even when I cry out for help, He shuts my prayer down.

9 He blocked my paths with stone walls and twisted my roads.

10 He has been like a bear waiting on me, like a lion in hiding.

11 He dragged me off the road and tore me up, left me empty.

12 He pulled His bow and set me up as target practice.

13 He drove arrows deep into my insides.

No Peace, No Relief

14 I became a joke to my own people, their daily song of mockery.

15 He filled me with bitterness and force-fed me sorrow.

16 He broke my teeth with gravel and shoved my face in the dirt.

17 My soul got pushed away from peace. I forgot what good even feels like.

18 I said, “My strength is gone, and so is my hope in the LORD.”

Remembering Pain

19 Remember my suffering and homelessness, the bitterness and poison.

20 My soul keeps replaying it and sinks low inside me.

Hope Breaks Through

21 But this is what I bring back to my mind, and this is why I still have hope.

22 The LORD’s loyal love never runs out. His mercy never dries up.

23 They are brand new every morning. Your faithfulness is serious.

24 I tell myself, “The LORD is my portion, so I will wait on Him.”

The Lord Is Good

25 The LORD is good to those who wait on Him, to the one who really seeks Him.

26 It is good to wait quietly for the LORD to come through.

27 It is good for a man to carry the load while he is still young.

28 Let him sit alone and stay quiet when the LORD puts it on him.

29 Let him put his mouth in the dust. Maybe there is still hope.

30 Let him turn the other cheek to the one hitting him and take the insults.

God Does Not Enjoy Crushing

31 The Lord will not reject forever.

32 Even if He causes pain, He will still show compassion because His love is deep.

33 He does not enjoy crushing people or bringing suffering.

God Sees Everything

34 Crushing prisoners underfoot,

35 Denying justice in front of the Most High,

36 Twisting a person’s case, the Lord sees all of that.

37 Who can speak something into existence unless the Lord allows it,

38 Do not both disaster and blessing come from the mouth of the Most High,

39 Why complain when punished for your own sins,

Examine Yourself

40 Let us check our ways and test them, then turn back to the LORD.

41 Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven.

42 We sinned and rebelled, and You did not let it slide.

God’s Wrath and Judgment

43 You covered Yourself in anger and chased us down. You killed without mercy.

44 You wrapped Yourself in a cloud so prayer could not get through.

45 You made us trash and garbage among the nations.

46 All our enemies run their mouths at us.

47 Fear and traps came at us, destruction and ruin.

48 My eyes pour out rivers of tears because my people are wrecked.

Tears That Does Not Stop

49 My eyes will not stop crying, no break at all,

50 Until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.

51 What I see in the city hurts my soul because of my people.

Hunted Without Cause

52 They hunted me like a bird for no reason.

53 They threw me into a pit and sealed it with stone.

54 Water closed in over my head. I said, “It is over.”

The Lord Responds

55 I called on Your name, LORD, from the deepest pit.

56 You heard my voice. You did not ignore my cry for help.

57 You came close the day I called You and said, “Do not be afraid.”

God Defends and Repays

58 Lord, You took up my case. You redeemed my life.

59 You saw the wrong done to me. LORD, make it right.

60 You saw all their revenge and plots against me.

61 You heard their insults, LORD, all their plans.

62 The whispers and schemes against me all day long.

63 Watch them when they sit and when they stand. I am their song.

Final Plea for Justice

64 Pay them back, LORD, for what they have done.

65 Give them stubborn hearts. Let Your curse land on them.

66 Chase them down in anger and wipe them out from under heaven.