Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.

He will make the woman drink the bitter water that brings on the curse. When the water enters her body, it will cause bitter suffering if she is guilty.

If she has defiled herself by being unfaithful to her husband, the water that brings on the curse will cause bitter suffering. Her abdomen will swell and her womb will shrink, and her name will become a curse among her people.

“‘Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years—a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.’

“In the distant future, when you are suffering all these things, you will finally return to the Lord your God and listen to what he tells you.

Eat it with bread made without yeast. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, as when you escaped from Egypt in such a hurry. Eat this bread—the bread of suffering—so that as long as you live you will remember the day you departed from Egypt.

Whenever the Lord raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the Lord took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering.

For the Lord saw the bitter suffering of everyone in Israel, and that there was no one in Israel, slave or free, to help them.

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.

My heart is troubled and restless. Days of suffering torment me.

I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’

But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity.

Be on guard! Turn back from evil, for God sent this suffering to keep you from a life of evil.

For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.

Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?

I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.

Don’t let these wild beasts destroy your turtledoves. Don’t forget your suffering people forever.

Psalm 88

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah. A song to be sung to the tune “The Suffering of Affliction.” A psalm of Heman the Ezrahite.

O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night.

My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.

Resh

Look upon my suffering and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your instructions.

We, too, writhe in agony, but nothing comes of our suffering. We have not given salvation to the earth, nor brought life into the world.

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes.

I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.

Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering.

The Lord’s Suffering Servant

See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted.