Lamentations 3 — FBV

3Verse 1I am the man who has experienced suffering under the rod of God's anger.
^{Verse 2}He has driven me away, forcing me to walk in darkness instead of the light.
^{Verse 3}In fact he hits⁺me again and again all day long.
^{Verse 4}He has worn me out; he has broken me in pieces.
^{Verse 5}He has besieged me, surrounding me with bitterness and misery.
^{Verse 6}He has forced me to live in darkness like those long dead.
^{Verse 7}He has built a wall around me so I can't escape; he has bound me with heavy chains.
^{Verse 8}Even when I keep on crying out for help, he refuses to listen to my prayer.
^{Verse 9}He has put stone blocks in my way and sends me down crooked paths.
^{Verse 10}He is a bear that lies in wait for me, a lion in hiding ready to attack,
^{Verse 11}He dragged me from my path and ripped me to pieces, leaving me helpless.
^{Verse 12}He loaded his bow with an arrow and used me as his target,
^{Verse 13}He shot me in my kidneys with his arrows.
^{Verse 14}Now everyone laughs at me, singing songs that mock me all day long.
^{Verse 15}He has filled me with bitterness; he has filled me up with bitter wormwood.
^{Verse 16}He has broken my teeth with grit; he has trampled me in the dust.
^{Verse 17}Peace has been torn away from me; I've forgotten all that's good in life.
^{Verse 18}That's why I say, “My expectation of a long life is gone, along with all that I hoped for from the Lord.
^{Verse 19}Don't forget everything I've suffered in my wandering, as bitter as wormwood and poison.
^{Verse 20}I certainly haven't forgotten. I remember it all too well, so I sink into depression.
^{Verse 21}But I still hope when I think about this:
^{Verse 22}The trustworthy love of the Lord never ends, and his compassion has no limit.^{+
Verse 23}They're new every morning. Lord, you're completely faithful!”
^{Verse 24}“The Lord is all I need,” I tell myself, “so I will put my hope in him.”
^{Verse 25}The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to anyone who seeks to follow him.
^{Verse 26}It is good to wait quietly for the Lord's salvation.
^{Verse 27}It is good for people to learn to patiently bear discipline⁺while they're still young.
^{Verse 28}They should sit by themselves in silence, because it's God who has disciplined them.
^{Verse 29}They should bow low with their faces to the ground, for there may still be hope.
^{Verse 30}They should turn a cheek to someone who wants to slap them; they should take the insults of others.
^{Verse 31}For the Lord won't abandon us forever.
^{Verse 32}Even though he may bring sadness, he shows us mercy because his trustworthy love is so great.
^{Verse 33}For he doesn't willingly hurt people, or cause them grief.
^{Verse 34}Whether it's mistreating all the prisoners of the land,
^{Verse 35}Or denying someone their rights as the Most High watches,
^{Verse 36}Or cheating someone in their legal case—these things the Lord doesn't approve of.
^{Verse 37}Who spoke and it came into existence? Wasn't it the Lord who commanded it?^{+
Verse 38}When the Most High speaks it can be a disaster or a blessing.^{+
Verse 39}Why should any human being complain about the results of their sins?
^{Verse 40}We should look at ourselves, examine what we're doing, and return to the Lord.
^{Verse 41}Let's not just hold up our hands to God in heaven, but our minds⁺as well, saying,
^{Verse 42}“We are the ones who sinned; we are the ones who rebelled; and you haven't forgiven us!”
^{Verse 43}You have wrapped yourself in anger and chased us down, killing without mercy. You have killed without pity.
^{Verse 44}You have wrapped yourself with a cloud that no prayer can penetrate.
^{Verse 45}You have made us waste and refuse to the nations all around.
^{Verse 46}All our enemies open their mouths to criticize us.
^{Verse 47}We're terrified and trapped, devastated and destroyed.
^{Verse 48}Tears stream from my eyes over the death of my people.
^{Verse 49}My eyes overflow with tears all the time. They won't stop
^{Verse 50}Until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees what's going on.
^{Verse 51}What I've seen torments me because of what's happened to all the women in my city.
^{Verse 52}For no reason my enemies trapped me like a bird.
^{Verse 53}They tried to kill me by tossing me into a pit and throwing stones at me.
^{Verse 54}Water flooded over my head, and I thought I was going to die.
^{Verse 55}I called out for you, Lord, from deep inside the pit.
^{Verse 56}You heard me when I prayed, “Please don't ignore my cry for help.”
^{Verse 57}You came to me when I called you, and you told me, “Don't be afraid!”
^{Verse 58}You have taken my case and defended me; you have saved my life!
^{Verse 59}Lord, you have seen the injustices done to me; please vindicate me!
^{Verse 60}You have observed how vengeful they are and how often they've plotted against me.
^{Verse 61}Lord, you have heard how they've insulted me, and what they've plotted against me,
^{Verse 62}How my enemies talk against me and complain about me all the time!
^{Verse 63}Just look! Whether they're sitting down and or standing up, they go on making fun of me in their songs.
^{Verse 64}Pay them back as they deserve, Lord, for all they've done!
^{Verse 65}Give them a covering for their minds!⁺May your curse be on them!
^{Verse 66}Chase them down in your anger, Lord, and get rid of them from the earth!