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Isa ako sa mga nakaranas ng parusa ng Panginoon dahil sa kanyang galit. Pinalayas niya ako at pinalakad sa dilim sa halip na sa liwanag. Paulit-ulit niya akong pinarusahan araw at gabi. Pinahina ang aking katawan at binali ang aking mga buto. Sinalakay niya ako at ibinilanggo sa paghihirap at pagdurusa. Inilagay sa kadiliman na parang isang tao na matagal nang patay. Kinadena niya ako at ikinulong upang hindi makatakas. Kahit na humingi ako ng tulong, hindi niya ako pinakinggan. Hinarangan niya ng pader ang aking landas, at pinaliku-liko ang aking dadaanan. 10 Para siyang oso o leon na nag-aabang upang salakayin ako. 11 Kinaladkad ako palayo sa daan at pagkatapos ay nilapa at iniwan. 12 Iniumang niya ang kanyang pana at itinutok sa akin. 13 Pinana niya ako at tumagos ito sa puso ko. 14 Naging katawa-tawa ako sa aking mga kalahi. Buong araw nila akong inaawitan ng pangungutya. 15 Pinuno niya ako ng labis na kapaitan. 16 Nabungi ang mga ngipin ko dahil pinakain niya ako ng graba, at saka tinapak-tapakan niya ako sa lupa. 17 Inalis niya ako sa maganda kong kalagayan at hindi ko na naranasan ang kasaganaan.

18 Nawala na ang karangalan ko at lahat ng pag-asa sa Panginoon. 19 Napakasakit isipin ang mga paghihirap at pagdurusa ko. 20 At kung palagi ko itong iisipin, manghihina ako. 21 Pero nanunumbalik ang pag-asa ko kapag naaalala ko na 22 ang pag-ibig at awa ng Panginoon ay walang katapusan. Iyan ang dahilan kung bakit hindi tayo lubusang nalipol. 23 Araw-araw ay ipinapakita niya ang kanyang habag. Dakila ang katapatan ng Panginoon! 24 Kaya sinabi ko sa aking sarili, “Ang Panginoon ang lahat para sa akin, kaya sa kanya ako nagtitiwala.” 25 Mabuti ang Panginoon sa mga nagtitiwalaʼt umaasa sa kanya. 26 Mabuting matiyagang maghintay sa pagliligtas ng Panginoon. 27 Mabuti para sa isang tao na kahit bata pa ay matuto nang sumunod. 28 Kapag tinuturuan tayo ng Panginoon, tumahimik tayo at pag-isipan itong mabuti. 29 Magpakumbaba tayo sa harap ng Panginoon at huwag mawalan ng pag-asa. 30 Kapag sinampal ka sa isang pisngi, ibigay mo pa ang kabila. At tanggapin mo rin ang pangungutya ng iyong mga kaaway. 31 Dahil hindi tayo itatakwil ng Panginoon magpakailanman. 32 Pero kahit nagpaparusa siya, ipinapakita pa rin niya ang kanyang habag at ang napakalakiʼt walang hanggan niyang pag-ibig sa atin. 33 Dahil hindi siya natutuwa na tayoʼy saktan o pahirapan.

34 Ayaw ng Panginoon na apihin ang mga bilanggo, 35 o balewalain ang karapatan ng tao. 36 Ayaw din ng Kataas-taasang Dios na ipagkait ang katarungan sa sinumang tao. Nakikita niya ang lahat ng ito.

37 Walang anumang bagay na nangyayari na hindi pinahihintulutan ng Panginoon. 38 Ang Kataas-taasang Dios ang nagpapasya kung ang isang bagay na mabuti o masama ay mangyayari. 39 Kaya bakit tayo magrereklamo kung pinarurusahan tayo dahil sa ating kasalanan? 40 Ang dapat ay siyasatin natin ang ating pamumuhay at magbalik-loob sa Panginoon. 41 Buksan natin ang ating mga puso at itaas ang ating mga kamay sa Dios na nasa langit at sabihin: 42 Panginoon, nagkasala po kami at naghimagsik sa inyo, at hindi nʼyo kami pinatawad. 43 Nagalit kayo sa amin at inusig kami at walang awang pinatay. 44 Tinakpan nʼyo ng mga ulap ang inyong sarili para hindi nʼyo marinig ang aming mga dalangin. 45 Ginawa nʼyo kaming parang basura sa paningin ng ibaʼt ibang bansa. 46 Kinutya kami ng lahat ng aming mga kaaway. 47 Dumanas kami ng matinding takot, panganib, pagkasira at kapahamakan.”

48 Napaluha ako dahil sa kapahamakang sinapit ng aking mga kalahi.

49 Patuloy akong iiyak 50 hanggang sa tumunghay ang Panginoon mula sa langit. 51 Labis akong nasaktan sa sinapit ng mga kababaihan ng aking lungsod.

52 Hinahabol ako ng aking mga kaaway na parang isang ibon, kahit na wala naman akong nagawang kasalanan sa kanila. 53 Sinubukan nila akong patayin sa pamamagitan ng pambabato at paghulog sa balon. 54 Halos malunod na ako at ang akala koʼy mamamatay na ako.

55 Doon sa ilalim ng balon, tumawag ako sa inyo Panginoon. 56 Pinakinggan nʼyo ang pagmamakaawa ko at paghingi ng tulong. 57 Dumating kayo nang akoʼy tumawag at sinabi nʼyong huwag akong matakot. 58 Tinulungan nʼyo ako sa problema ko Panginoon, at iniligtas nʼyo ang buhay ko. 59 Panginoon, nakita nʼyo ang kasamaang ginawa sa akin ng aking mga kaaway, kaya bigyan nʼyo ako ng katarungan. 60 Alam nʼyo kung paano nila ako pinaghigantihan at ang lahat ng binabalak nila laban sa akin. 61 Napakinggan nʼyo, O Panginoon, ang mga pangungutya nila at alam nʼyo ang lahat ng binabalak nila laban sa akin. 62 Buong araw nilang pinag-uusapan ang pinaplano nilang masama laban sa akin. 63 Masdan nʼyo, nakaupo man sila o nakatayo, kinukutya nila ako sa pamamagitan ng pag-awit. 64 Panginoon, parusahan nʼyo sila ayon sa kanilang ginagawa. 65 Patigasin nʼyo ang mga puso nila at sumpain nʼyo sila. 66 Sa galit nʼyo Panginoon, habulin nʼyo sila at lipulin nang mawala na sila sa mundong ito.

The Meaning of Suffering

I am a man who has seen much trouble.
    God beat us with a stick, and I saw it happen.
He led and brought me
    into darkness, not light.
He turned his hand against me.
    He did this again and again, all day.
He wore out my flesh and skin.
    He broke my bones.
He built up bitterness and trouble against me.
    He surrounded me with bitterness and trouble.
He put me in the dark,
    like someone who died long ago.
He shut me in, so I could not get out.
    He put heavy chains on me.
Even when I cry out and ask for help,
    he does not listen to my prayer.
He has blocked up my path with stones.
    He has made my path crooked.
10 He is like a bear about to attack me,
    like a lion that is in a hiding place.
11 He led me off my path.
    He tore me to pieces and ruined me.
12 He made his bow ready.
    He made me the target for his arrows.
13 He shot me in the stomach
    with his arrows.
14 I have become a joke to all my people.
    All day long they sing songs about me and make fun of me.
15 He gave me this poison to drink.
    He filled me with this bitter drink.
16 He pushed my teeth into rocky ground.
    He pushed me into the dirt.
17 I thought I would never have peace again.
    I forgot about good things.
18 I said to myself, “I no longer have any hope
    that the Lord will help me.”
19 Remember, I am very sad,
    and I have no home.
    Remember the bitter poison that you gave me.
20 I remember well all my troubles,
    and I am very sad.
21 But then I think about this,
    and I have hope:
22 We are still alive because
    the Lord’s faithful love never ends.
23 Every morning he shows it in new ways!
    You are so very true and loyal!
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my God,
    and I trust him.”[a]

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him.
    He is good to those who look for him.
26 It is good to wait quietly
    for the Lord to save them.
27 It is good for a man to wear his yoke
    from the time he is young.
28 He should sit alone and be quiet
    when the Lord puts his yoke on him.
29 He should bow down to the Lord.
    Maybe there is still hope.
30 He should turn his cheek to the one who hits him
    and let people insult him.
31 He should remember that
    the Lord does not reject people forever.
32 When he punishes, he also has mercy.
    He has mercy because of his great love and kindness.

33 He does not enjoy causing people pain.
    He does not like to make anyone unhappy.
34 He does not like any prisoner on earth
    to be trampled down.
35 He does not like anyone to be unfair to another person.
    Some people will do such things right in front of God Most High.
36 The Lord does not like anyone to cheat another person.
    He does not like any of these things.
37 No one can say something and make it happen,
    unless the Lord orders it.
38 God Most High commands
    both good and bad things to happen.
39 No one alive can complain
    when he punishes them for their sins.
40 Let us check and see what we have done.
    Then let us turn back to the Lord.

41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands
    to the God of heaven.
42 Let us say to him, “We have sinned and have been stubborn.
    Because of this, you have not forgiven us.
43 You wrapped yourself with anger.
    You chased us.
    You killed us without mercy!
44 You wrapped yourself in a cloud
    so that no prayer could get through.
45 You made us like garbage and dirt
    to the other nations.
46 All of our enemies
    speak angrily against us.
47 We have been frightened.
    We have fallen into a pit.
We have been badly hurt.
    We have been broken.”
48 My eyes flow with streams of tears.
    I cry because of the destruction of my people.
49 My eyes will flow without stopping.
    I will keep on crying.
50 I will continue to cry
    until you look down and see us, Lord!
I will continue to cry
    until you see us from heaven.
51 My eyes make me sad, when I see
    what happened to the young women in my city.
52 For no reason,
    my enemies hunted me like a bird.
53 They threw me alive into a pit
    and then threw stones at me.
54 Water came up over my head.
    I said to myself, “I am finished.”
55 Lord, I called your name
    from the bottom of the pit.
56 You heard my voice.
    You didn’t close your ears.
    You didn’t refuse to rescue me.
57 You came to me on the day that I called out to you.
    You said to me, “Don’t be afraid.”
58 You defended me
    and brought me back to life.
59 Lord, you have seen my trouble.
    Now judge my case for me.
60 You have seen how my enemies have hurt me.
    You have seen all the evil plans that they made against me.
61 You heard them insult me, Lord.
    You have heard all the evil plans that they made against me.
62 The words and the thoughts of my enemies
    are against me all the time—
63     when they sit down and when they stand up.
    Look how they make fun of me!
64 Give them back what they deserve, Lord.
    Pay them back for what they have done.
65 Make them stubborn
    and then curse them.
66 Chase them in anger and destroy them.
    Wipe them off the face of the earth, Lord!

Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 3:24 The Lord … him Or “The Lord is my portion and I trust him.”

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.

The Prophet’s Anguish and Hope

I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.
He has led me and made me walk
In darkness and not in light.
Surely He has turned His hand against me
Time and time again throughout the day.

He has aged (A)my flesh and my skin,
And (B)broken my bones.
He has besieged me
And surrounded me with bitterness and [a]woe.
(C)He has set me in dark places
Like the dead of long ago.

(D)He has hedged me in so that I cannot get out;
He has made my chain heavy.
Even (E)when I cry and shout,
He shuts out my prayer.
He has blocked my ways with hewn stone;
He has made my paths crooked.

10 (F)He has been to me a bear lying in wait,
Like a lion in [b]ambush.
11 He has turned aside my ways and (G)torn me in pieces;
He has made me desolate.
12 He has bent His bow
And (H)set me up as a target for the arrow.

13 He has caused (I)the [c]arrows of His quiver
To pierce my [d]loins.
14 I have become the (J)ridicule of all my people—
(K)Their taunting song all the day.
15 (L)He has filled me with bitterness,
He has made me drink wormwood.

16 He has also broken my teeth (M)with gravel,
And [e]covered me with ashes.
17 You have moved my soul far from peace;
I have forgotten [f]prosperity.
18 (N)And I said, “My strength and my hope
Have perished from the Lord.”

19 Remember my affliction and roaming,
(O)The wormwood and the [g]gall.
20 My soul still remembers
And [h]sinks within me.
21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have (P)hope.

22 (Q)Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions (R)fail not.
23 They are new (S)every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my (T)portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I (U)hope in Him!”

25 The Lord is good to those who (V)wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should (W)hope (X)and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
27 (Y)It is good for a man to bear
The yoke in his youth.

28 (Z)Let him sit alone and keep silent,
Because God has laid it on him;
29 (AA)Let him put his mouth in the dust—
There may yet be hope.
30 (AB)Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him,
And be full of reproach.

31 (AC)For the Lord will not cast off forever.
32 Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies.
33 For (AD)He does not afflict [i]willingly,
Nor grieve the children of men.

34 To crush under one’s feet
All the prisoners of the earth,
35 To turn aside the justice due a man
Before the face of the Most High,
36 Or subvert a man in his cause—
(AE)The Lord does not approve.

37 Who is he (AF)who speaks and it comes to pass,
When the Lord has not commanded it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That (AG)woe and well-being proceed?
39 (AH)Why should a living man [j]complain,
(AI)A man for the punishment of his sins?

40 Let us search out and examine our ways,
And turn back to the Lord;
41 (AJ)Let us lift our hearts and hands
To God in heaven.
42 (AK)We have transgressed and rebelled;
You have not pardoned.

43 You have covered Yourself with anger
And pursued us;
You have slain and not pitied.
44 You have covered Yourself with a cloud,
That prayer should not pass through.
45 You have made us an (AL)offscouring and refuse
In the midst of the peoples.

46 (AM)All our enemies
Have opened their mouths against us.
47 (AN)Fear and a snare have come upon us,
(AO)Desolation and destruction.
48 (AP)My eyes overflow with rivers of water
For the destruction of the daughter of my people.

49 (AQ)My eyes flow and do not cease,
Without interruption,
50 Till the Lord from heaven
(AR)Looks down and sees.
51 My eyes bring suffering to my soul
Because of all the daughters of my city.

52 My enemies (AS)without cause
Hunted me down like a bird.
53 They [k]silenced my life (AT)in the pit
And (AU)threw [l]stones at me.
54 (AV)The waters flowed over my head;
(AW)I said, “I am cut off!”

55 (AX)I called on Your name, O Lord,
From the lowest (AY)pit.
56 (AZ)You have heard my voice:
“Do not hide Your ear
From my sighing, from my cry for help.”
57 You (BA)drew near on the day I called on You,
And said, (BB)“Do not fear!”

58 O Lord, You have (BC)pleaded the case for my soul;
(BD)You have redeemed my life.
59 O Lord, You have seen [m]how I am wronged;
(BE)Judge my case.
60 You have seen all their vengeance,
All their (BF)schemes against me.

61 You have heard their reproach, O Lord,
All their schemes against me,
62 The lips of my enemies
And their whispering against me all the day.
63 Look at their (BG)sitting down and their rising up;
I am their taunting song.

64 (BH)Repay them, O Lord,
According to the work of their hands.
65 Give them [n]a veiled heart;
Your curse be upon them!
66 In Your anger,
Pursue and destroy them
(BI)From under the heavens of the (BJ)Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 3:5 hardship or weariness
  2. Lamentations 3:10 Lit. secret places
  3. Lamentations 3:13 Lit. sons of
  4. Lamentations 3:13 Lit. kidneys
  5. Lamentations 3:16 Lit. bent me down in
  6. Lamentations 3:17 Lit. good
  7. Lamentations 3:19 bitterness
  8. Lamentations 3:20 Lit. bowed down
  9. Lamentations 3:33 Lit. from His heart
  10. Lamentations 3:39 Or murmur
  11. Lamentations 3:53 LXX put to death
  12. Lamentations 3:53 Lit. a stone on
  13. Lamentations 3:59 Lit. my wrong
  14. Lamentations 3:65 A Jewish tradition sorrow of

[a]I am the man who has seen affliction(A)
    by the rod of the Lord’s wrath.(B)
He has driven me away and made me walk
    in darkness(C) rather than light;
indeed, he has turned his hand against me(D)
    again and again, all day long.

He has made my skin and my flesh grow old(E)
    and has broken my bones.(F)
He has besieged me and surrounded me
    with bitterness(G) and hardship.(H)
He has made me dwell in darkness
    like those long dead.(I)

He has walled me in so I cannot escape;(J)
    he has weighed me down with chains.(K)
Even when I call out or cry for help,(L)
    he shuts out my prayer.(M)
He has barred(N) my way with blocks of stone;
    he has made my paths crooked.(O)

10 Like a bear lying in wait,
    like a lion(P) in hiding,(Q)
11 he dragged me from the path and mangled(R) me
    and left me without help.
12 He drew his bow(S)
    and made me the target(T) for his arrows.(U)

13 He pierced(V) my heart
    with arrows from his quiver.(W)
14 I became the laughingstock(X) of all my people;(Y)
    they mock me in song(Z) all day long.
15 He has filled me with bitter herbs
    and given me gall to drink.(AA)

16 He has broken my teeth with gravel;(AB)
    he has trampled me in the dust.(AC)
17 I have been deprived of peace;
    I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18 So I say, “My splendor is gone
    and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”(AD)

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness(AE) and the gall.(AF)
20 I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast(AG) within me.(AH)
21 Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the Lord’s great love(AI) we are not consumed,(AJ)
    for his compassions never fail.(AK)
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.(AL)
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;(AM)
    therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;(AN)
26 it is good to wait quietly(AO)
    for the salvation of the Lord.(AP)
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
    while he is young.

28 Let him sit alone in silence,(AQ)
    for the Lord has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust(AR)
    there may yet be hope.(AS)
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,(AT)
    and let him be filled with disgrace.(AU)

31 For no one is cast off
    by the Lord forever.(AV)
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love.(AW)
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
    or grief to anyone.(AX)

34 To crush underfoot
    all prisoners in the land,
35 to deny people their rights
    before the Most High,(AY)
36 to deprive them of justice—
    would not the Lord see such things?(AZ)

37 Who can speak and have it happen
    if the Lord has not decreed it?(BA)
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
    that both calamities and good things come?(BB)
39 Why should the living complain
    when punished for their sins?(BC)

40 Let us examine our ways and test them,(BD)
    and let us return to the Lord.(BE)
41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands
    to God in heaven,(BF) and say:
42 “We have sinned and rebelled(BG)
    and you have not forgiven.(BH)

43 “You have covered yourself with anger and pursued(BI) us;
    you have slain without pity.(BJ)
44 You have covered yourself with a cloud(BK)
    so that no prayer(BL) can get through.(BM)
45 You have made us scum(BN) and refuse
    among the nations.

46 “All our enemies have opened their mouths
    wide(BO) against us.(BP)
47 We have suffered terror and pitfalls,(BQ)
    ruin and destruction.(BR)
48 Streams of tears(BS) flow from my eyes(BT)
    because my people are destroyed.(BU)

49 My eyes will flow unceasingly,
    without relief,(BV)
50 until the Lord looks down
    from heaven and sees.(BW)
51 What I see brings grief to my soul
    because of all the women of my city.

52 Those who were my enemies without cause
    hunted me like a bird.(BX)
53 They tried to end my life in a pit(BY)
    and threw stones at me;
54 the waters closed over my head,(BZ)
    and I thought I was about to perish.(CA)

55 I called on your name, Lord,
    from the depths(CB) of the pit.(CC)
56 You heard my plea:(CD) “Do not close your ears
    to my cry for relief.”
57 You came near(CE) when I called you,
    and you said, “Do not fear.”(CF)

58 You, Lord, took up my case;(CG)
    you redeemed my life.(CH)
59 Lord, you have seen the wrong done to me.(CI)
    Uphold my cause!(CJ)
60 You have seen the depth of their vengeance,
    all their plots against me.(CK)

61 Lord, you have heard their insults,(CL)
    all their plots against me—
62 what my enemies whisper and mutter
    against me all day long.(CM)
63 Look at them! Sitting or standing,
    they mock me in their songs.(CN)

64 Pay them back what they deserve, Lord,
    for what their hands have done.(CO)
65 Put a veil over their hearts,(CP)
    and may your curse be on them!
66 Pursue(CQ) them in anger and destroy them
    from under the heavens of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 3:1 This chapter is an acrostic poem; the verses of each stanza begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and the verses within each stanza begin with the same letter.