Lamentations 3:29-44

English Standard Version

²⁹^(A)let him put his mouth in the dust—
there may yet be hope;
³⁰^(B)let him give his cheek to the one who strikes,
and let him be filled with insults.

³¹^(C)For the Lord will not
    cast off forever,
³²for, though he ^(D)cause grief, ^(E)he will have compassion
    ^(F)according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
³³^(G)for he does not afflict from his heart
    or ^(H)grieve the children of men.

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

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

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

⁴³“You have wrapped yourself with anger and pursued us,
^(S)killing without pity;
⁴⁴^(T)you have wrapped yourself with a cloud
so that no prayer can pass through.