Lamentations 3:1-18

International Standard Version

⁴ He made my flesh and skin prematurely old;
    he broke my bones.
⁵ He laid siege against me,
    surrounding me with bitterness and suffering.
⁶ He has forced me to live in darkness,
    like those who are long dead.

⁷ He has walled me in so I cannot escape;
    he placed heavy chains on me.
⁸ Indeed, when I cry out, calling for help,
    he shuts out my prayer.
⁹ He impeded my way with blocks of stone,
    making my paths uneven.

¹⁰ He is like^[b] a bear that lies in wait for me,
    a lion in hiding.
¹¹ He forced me off my path,
    tearing me to pieces and making me desolate.
¹² He bent his bow,
    aiming at me with his arrow.

¹³ He caused his war arrows^[c]
    to pierce my vital organs.
¹⁴ I have become a laughingstock to all my people,
    the object of their taunts throughout the day.
¹⁵ He has filled me with bitterness,
    making me drink wormwood.

¹⁶ He broke my teeth on gravel,
    covering me with dust.
¹⁷ You have removed peace from my life;
    I have forgotten what prosperity is.^[d]
18 So I say, “My strength is gone
    as is my hope in the Lord.”