22 (A)Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions (B)fail not.
23 They are new (C)every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my (D)portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I (E)hope in Him!”

25 The Lord is good to those who (F)wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should (G)hope (H)and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
27 (I)It is good for a man to bear
The yoke in his youth.

28 (J)Let him sit alone and keep silent,
Because God has laid it on him;
29 (K)Let him put his mouth in the dust—
There may yet be hope.
30 (L)Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him,
And be full of reproach.

31 (M)For the Lord will not cast off forever.
32 Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies.
33 For (N)He does not afflict [a]willingly,
Nor grieve the children of men.

34 To crush under one’s feet
All the prisoners of the earth,
35 To turn aside the justice due a man
Before the face of the Most High,
36 Or subvert a man in his cause—
(O)The Lord does not approve.

37 Who is he (P)who speaks and it comes to pass,
When the Lord has not commanded it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That (Q)woe and well-being proceed?
39 (R)Why should a living man [b]complain,
(S)A man for the punishment of his sins?

40 Let us search out and examine our ways,
And turn back to the Lord;
41 (T)Let us lift our hearts and hands
To God in heaven.
42 (U)We have transgressed and rebelled;
You have not pardoned.

43 You have covered Yourself with anger
And pursued us;
You have slain and not pitied.
44 You have covered Yourself with a cloud,
That prayer should not pass through.
45 You have made us an (V)offscouring and refuse
In the midst of the peoples.

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 3:33 Lit. from His heart
  2. Lamentations 3:39 Or murmur

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