Lamentations 3:18-33

New International Reader's Version

¹⁹ I remember how I suffered and wandered.
    I remember how bitter my life was.
²⁰ I remember it very well.
    My spirit is very sad deep down inside me.
²¹ But here is something else I remember.
    And it gives me hope.

²² The Lord loves us very much.
    So we haven’t been completely destroyed.
    His loving concern never fails.
²³ His great love is new every morning.
    Lord, how faithful you are!
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is everything I will ever need.
    So I will put my hope in him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those who put their hope in him.
    He is good to those who look to him.
²⁶ It is good when people wait quietly
    for the Lord to save them.
²⁷ It is good for a man to carry a heavy load of suffering
    while he is young.

²⁸ Let him sit alone and not say anything.
    The Lord has placed that load on him.
²⁹ Let him bury his face in the dust.
    There might still be hope for him.
³⁰ Let him turn his cheek toward those who would slap him.
    Let him be filled with shame.

³¹ The Lord doesn’t turn his back
    on people forever.
³² He might bring suffering.
    But he will also show loving concern.
    How great his faithful love is!
³³ He doesn’t want to bring pain
    or suffering to anyone.