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I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
He hath led me and caused me to walk in darkness, [a]and not in light.
Surely against me he turneth his hand again and again all the day.
My flesh and my skin hath he [b]made old; he hath broken my bones.
He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.
He hath walled me about, that I cannot go forth; he hath made my chain heavy.
Yea, when I cry, and call for help, he shutteth out my prayer.
He hath walled up my ways with hewn stone; he hath made my paths crooked.
10 He is unto me as a bear lying in wait, 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 [c]shafts of his quiver to enter into my reins.
14 I am become a derision to all my people, and their song all the day.
15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath sated me with wormwood.
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones; he hath covered me with ashes.
17 And thou hast [d]removed my soul far off from peace; I forgat prosperity.
18 And I said, My strength is perished, and mine expectation from Jehovah.

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 3:2 Or, without light
  2. Lamentations 3:4 Or, worn out
  3. Lamentations 3:13 Hebrew sons.
  4. Lamentations 3:17 Or, cast off

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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 3:5 Literally “he has built against”
  2. Lamentations 3:13 Literally “the offspring of his arrow quiver”