Lamentations 3:22-45

English Standard Version

^22 (A)The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;^{[a]
    (B)}his mercies never come to an end;
²³ they are new ^(C)every morning;
    ^(D)great is your faithfulness.
^24 (E)“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    ^(F)“therefore I will hope in him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those who ^(G)wait for him,
    to the soul who seeks him.
^26 (H)It is good that one should wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.
^27 (I)It is good for a man that he bear
    the yoke ^(J)in his youth.

²⁸ Let him ^(K)sit alone in silence
    when it is laid on him;
^29 (L)let him put his mouth in the dust—
    there may yet be hope;
^30 (M)let him give his cheek to the one who strikes,
    and let him be filled with insults.

^31 (N)For the Lord will not
    cast off forever,
³² for, though he ^(O)cause grief, ^(P)he will have compassion
    ^(Q)according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
^33 (R)for he does not afflict from his heart
    or ^(S)grieve the children of men.

³⁴ To crush underfoot
    all ^(T)the prisoners of the earth,
^35 (U)to deny a man justice
    in the presence of the Most High,
³⁶ to subvert a man in his lawsuit,
    ^(V)the Lord does not approve.

^37 (W)Who has spoken and it came to pass,
    unless the Lord has commanded it?
^38 (X)Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
    that good and bad come?
^39 (Y)Why should a living man complain,
    a man, about the punishment of his sins?

⁴⁰ Let us test and examine our ways,
    ^(Z)and return to the Lord!
^41 (AA)Let us lift up our hearts and hands
    to God in heaven:
^42 (AB)“We have transgressed and ^(AC)rebelled,
    and you have not forgiven.

⁴³ “You have wrapped yourself with anger and pursued us,
    ^(AD)killing without pity;
^44 (AE)you have wrapped yourself with a cloud
    so that no prayer can pass through.
^45 (AF)You have made us scum and garbage
    among the peoples.