Lamentations 3:1-18

International Children’s Bible

⁴ He caused my flesh and skin to wear out.
    He broke my bones.
⁵ He surrounded me and attacked me
    with sadness and grief.
⁶ He made me sit in the dark,
    like someone who has been dead a long time.

⁷ He shut me in so I could not get out.
    He put heavy chains on me.
⁸ I cry out and beg for help.
    But he ignores my prayer.
⁹ He has blocked my way with stones.
    He has made my life difficult.

¹⁰ The Lord is like a bear ready to attack me.
    He is like a lion in hiding.
¹¹ He led me the wrong way and tore me to pieces.
    He left me without help.
¹² He prepared to shoot his bow.
    He made me the target for his arrows.

¹³ He shot me in the kidneys
    with the arrows from his arrow bag.
¹⁴ I have become a joke to all my people.
    All day long they make fun of me with songs.
¹⁵ The Lord filled me with misery.
    He filled me with suffering.

¹⁶ The Lord broke my teeth with gravel.
    He crushed me into the dirt.
¹⁷ I have no more peace.
    I have forgotten what happiness is.
¹⁸ I said, “My strength is gone.
    I have no more hope that the Lord will help me.”