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Israel’s Affliction

I am a man who has seen misery,
under the rod of his wrath.
He has driven me along, he brought
    darkness and not light.
Surely he has turned his hand against me,
    all day long.
He has worn out my flesh and skin,
    he has broken my bones.
He has besieged[a] and engulfed me
    with bitterness and hardship.
In darkness he has let me dwell
    like the dead of long ago.
He has built a wall around me, I cannot go out;
    he has made my bronze fetters heavy.
Though I cry out for help,
    he shuts out my prayers.
He has blocked my ways with dressed stones;
    he has made my paths crooked.
10 To me he is like a bear lying in wait,
    a lion in hiding.
11 He has forsaken my way and torn me to pieces;
    he has caused me desolation.
12 He has bent his bow and set me
    as the target for the arrow.
13 He shot the arrows of his quiver[b]
    into my kidneys.
14 I have become a laughingstock for all the people,
    their mocking song all day long.
15 He has filled me with bitterness,
    he has drenched me with wormwood.
16 He has broken my teeth on grit,
    he has trampled me down in ash.
17 My life has been removed from peace,
    I have forgotten goodness.
18 And I have said, “My glory is ruined,
    my expectation from Yahweh.”
19 Remember my misery and bitterness,
    the wormwood[c] and venom!
20 Surely my soul remembers
    and bows down within me.
21 This I have reminded myself,[d]
    therefore I will hope.
22 The loyal love of Yahweh does not cease;
    his compassions do not come to an end.
23 They are new in the morning,
    great is your faithfulness.
24 “Yahweh is my portion,”
    says my soul,
        “Thus I will hope on him.”
25 Yahweh is good to those who wait on him,
    to the person that seeks him.
26 It is good to wait in silence
    for the salvation of Yahweh.
27 It is good for a man who carries
    the yoke of his childhood.
28 Let him sit alone and be silent
    when he[e] has laid it on him.
29 Let him put[f] his mouth in the dust;
    perhaps there is hope.
30 Let him give a cheek to his smiter,
    let him be filled with disgrace.
31 For the Lord will not reject
    forever.
32 For even though he causes grief he has compassion
    according to the greatness of his royal love.
33 He does not afflict willingly,[g]
    or grieve anyone.[h]
34 To crush under his feet
    all the prisoners of the earth;
35 to deprive one of justice[i]
    before the face of the Most High;
36 to subvert a person in a legal dispute
    —the Lord has not found delight in these things.
37 Who can speak[j] and it will happen
    if the Lord has not commanded it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
    that disaster and good will come?
39 Why should any living person complain
    about his sin?
40 Let us test and examine our ways;
    let us return to Yahweh.
41 Let us lift up our hearts with our hands
    to God in the heavens.
42 We ourselves have transgressed and rebelled,
    you have not forgiven.
43 You have covered yourself in anger[k] and pursued us,
    you have slain and not shown mercy.
44 You have covered yourself in a cloud
    so that prayer cannot pass through.[l]
45 You have made us scum and refuse
    in the midst of the nations.
46 All our enemies
    have opened their mouth against us.
47 Fear and a pit have come upon us,
    desolation and destruction.
48 Channels of water run down my eyes
    because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49 My eyes have poured down unceasingly
    without respite,
50 until Yahweh looks down
    and sees from heaven.
51 My eyes inflict my soul
    because of all the daughters of my city.
52 My enemies hunt me without cause,
    like a bird.
53 They have silenced me in a pit,[m]
    they have thrown a stone at me.
54 Water has flown over my head,
    I said, “I am cut off.”
55 I have called your name, O Yahweh,
    from the depths of the pit.
56 You have heard my cry, “Do not shut your ear
    to my cry for help, for my relief!”
57 You came near on a day when I called you,
    you said, “Do not fear!”
58 O Lord, you have pleaded for my cause,[n]
    you have redeemed my life.
59 You have seen my injustice, O Yahweh;
    judge my case.
60 You have seen all their vengeance,
    all there plans against me.
61 You have heard their disgrace, O Yahweh,
    all their plans against me.
62 The lips and meditation of my assailants
    are against me all day long.
63 Look at their sitting and their standing,
    I am their mocking song.
64 Return to them what is deserved, O Yahweh,
    according to the work of their hands.
65 Give them a stubborn heart;
    curse them!
66 Pursue them in anger[o] and destroy them
    from under the heavens of Yahweh.

Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 3:5 Literally “he has built against”
  2. Lamentations 3:13 Literally “the offspring of his arrow quiver”
  3. Lamentations 3:19 Or “the bitter substance”
  4. Lamentations 3:21 Literally “I have brought back to my heart”
  5. Lamentations 3:28 Yahweh
  6. Lamentations 3:29 Literally “him give”
  7. Lamentations 3:33 Literally “afflict from the heart”
  8. Lamentations 3:33 Literally “the sons of men”
  9. Lamentations 3:35 Literally “to turn aside the judgment of a man”
  10. Lamentations 3:37 Literally “Who is this that speaks”
  11. Lamentations 3:43 Literally “in the nose”
  12. Lamentations 3:44 Literally “from a passing prayer”
  13. Lamentations 3:53 Literally “they have put to silence my life in a pit”
  14. Lamentations 3:58 Literally “the legal disputes of my soul”
  15. Lamentations 3:66 Literally “in nose”

El significado del sufrimiento

Soy un hombre que ha visto el sufrimiento
    cuando Dios castiga lleno de ira.
Me guió y me hizo caminar
    en la oscuridad, no en la luz.
Me se puso en mi contra
    una y otra vez, todo el tiempo.

Debilitó mi cuerpo y mi piel,
    rompió mis huesos.
Me acorraló,
    me rodeó de pobreza y amargura.
Me hizo vivir en la oscuridad,
    como aquellos que han muerto hace mucho tiempo.

Construyó un muro a mi alrededor para que no pudiera escapar.
    Me ató con cadenas de bronce bien pesadas.
A pesar de que lloré y le pedí que me rescatara,
    él ignoró mi oración.
Bloqueó con murallas de piedra
    los caminos que yo quería seguir;
    desvió mi camino.

10 El SEÑOR parecía un oso listo a arrojarse sobre mí.
    Un león escondido listo para atacar.
11 Me alejó del camino y me rompió en mil pedazos.
    Me dejó completamente solo.
12 El SEÑOR preparó su arco,
    y me puso de blanco para la práctica.

13 Lanzó sus flechas
    directo a mi corazón[a].
14 Todo mi pueblo se ríe de mí;
    se burla de mí cantando todo el día.
15 Me llenó de amargura;
    me dio a beber la bebida más amarga.

16 Me tiró por el suelo y me hizo comer gravilla.[b]
    Me aplastó en el polvo.
17 La paz se ha alejado de mí;
    he olvidado lo que significa el bienestar.
18 Me dije a mí mismo:
    «Mi fuerza y esperanza en el SEÑOR han desaparecido».

19 Recuerda que estoy triste y no tengo hogar.
    Recuerda la bebida amarga y el veneno que me diste.
20 Tengo bien presentes todos mis problemas
    y me siento demasiado triste.
21 Pero nunca olvidaré algo
    que siempre me dará esperanza.

22 El fiel amor del SEÑOR nunca termina[c];
    su compasión no tiene fin,
23 cada mañana se renuevan.
    ¡Inmensa es su fidelidad!
24 Me digo:
«El SEÑOR es todo lo que tengo y necesito»;
    por eso siempre tendré esperanza en él.[d]

25 El SEÑOR es bueno con quienes creen en él;
    con los que lo buscan.
26 Es bueno esperar pacientemente
    la salvación que trae el SEÑOR.
27 Es mejor aprender
    a llevar el yugo desde jóvenes.

28 Hay que estar solos y calmados
    cuando el Señor nos coloca su yugo.
29 Hay que saber inclinar la cabeza.
    Besando el suelo, pienso que tal vez aun hay esperanza.
30 Hay que poner la otra mejilla cuando nos golpeen.
    Hay que saber aceptar la humillación.

31 El Señor no rechaza a la gente
    para siempre.
32 Aunque causa sufrimiento
    también tiene compasión
    y grande es su fiel amor.
33 Él no desea hacerle daño
    ni causarle sufrimiento a la gente.

34 Cuando alguien aplasta
    a los prisioneros de la tierra;
35 cuando a un hombre se le niegan sus derechos
    ante la presencia del Altísimo;
36 cuando a una persona la engañan en su juicio,
    el Señor se da cuenta de todo.
37 Nadie puede hacer que algo suceda
    a menos que el Señor así lo ordene.
38 Las cosas buenas y las desagradables
    llegan porque el Altísimo lo ordena.
39 Nadie debe quejarse del castigo
    que recibe por sus pecados mientras esté con vida.

40 Examinemos y evaluemos nuestra conducta
    y regresemos al SEÑOR.
41 Elevemos nuestro corazón y nuestras manos
    hacia Dios en el cielo.
42 Fuimos rebeldes y desobedientes
    y por eso no nos has perdonado.

43 Te vestiste con tu ira y nos perseguiste.
    Nos mataste sin piedad.
44 Te cubriste con una nube
    para que nuestras oraciones no llegaran a ti.
45 Nos hiciste quedar
    como mugre y basura ante la gente.

46 Todos nuestros enemigos
    se burlan de nosotros y nos insultan.
47 Fuimos presa del pánico y caímos en la fosa.
    Sufrimos la devastación y la destrucción.
48 Por mi rostro corren ríos de agua
    por la destrucción de mi pueblo amado.

49 Mis ojos están llenos de lágrimas
    que no dejan de correr,
50 hasta que el SEÑOR mire desde el cielo
    y vea lo que sucede.
51 Me siento triste al ver el destino
    de las jóvenes de mi ciudad.

52 Sin razón alguna,
    mis enemigos me atraparon como a un pájaro.
53 Trataron de acabar con mi vida en una fosa
    y arrojaron piedras sobre mí.
54 El agua me llegaba hasta la cabeza
    y pensé que mi vida había terminado.

55 SEÑOR, te llamo por tu nombre
    desde el fondo de la fosa.
56 Te ruego que escuches mi voz
    y no te tapes los oídos ante mi oración.
57 Te acercaste cuando te llamé
    y me dijiste: «No tengas miedo».

58 Señor, defiende mi causa
    y devuélveme la vida.
59 SEÑOR, mira el mal que se me ha hecho
    y hazme justicia en el tribunal.
60 Tú has visto todas las acciones de mis enemigos
    y sus planes en mi contra.

61 SEÑOR, tú has escuchado sus insultos
    y sus planes en contra mía.
62 Las palabras y pensamientos de mis enemigos
    están en mi contra todo el tiempo.
63 Soy objeto de su burla en todo momento;
    cuando están sentados
    y cuando están de pie.

64 Espero, SEÑOR, que les des
    lo que se merecen por lo que han hecho.
65 Quítales la capacidad de entender
    y haz caer sobre ellos tu maldición.
66 Persíguelos con tu ira
    y destrúyelos desde el cielo, SEÑOR.

Footnotes

  1. 3:13 corazón Textualmente riñones.
  2. 3:16 Me tiró […] gravilla Según LXX. TM: Me rompió los dientes con la gravilla.
  3. 3:22 El fiel amor […] termina TM: Es el fiel amor del SEÑOR que no estamos acabados.
  4. 3:24 El SEÑOR […] en él o El SEÑOR es la parte que me toca a mí y yo confío en él. Aquí se refiere a la división de la Tierra Prometida en la que los levitas no recibieron «su parte» del territorio, sino que recibieron al Señor. Él los ayudaría a satisfacer sus necesidades por medio de los sacrificios ofrecidos por los demás israelitas.

I Am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.

Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.

My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.

He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.

He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.

He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.

Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.

He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.

10 He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.

11 He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.

12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.

13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.

14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.

15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.

16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.

17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.

18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:

19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.

29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.

30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

34 To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.

35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,

36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.

37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.

41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

42 We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.

43 Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.

44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.

45 Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.

46 All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.

47 Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.

48 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

49 Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission.

50 Till the Lord look down, and behold from heaven.

51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.

52 Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.

53 They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.

54 Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.

55 I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon.

56 Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.

57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.

58 O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

59 O Lord, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.

60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.

61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, and all their imaginations against me;

62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.

63 Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.

64 Render unto them a recompence, O Lord, according to the work of their hands.

65 Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.

66 Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the Lord.