Lamentations Chapter 3
My enemy destroyed the ones I cared for and raised. Lam 2:21-22
Hope in the LORD’s Faithfulness
3:1I have seen suffering
under the rod God used in his anger.
2 He has driven me out and made me walk in the dark;
3 he has turned his hand against me repeatedly all day.
4 He made my skin and body waste away,
and broke my bones.
Lam 3:1-4
5 He besieged me with bitterness and hardship.
6 He made me live in dark places
like the dead from long ago.
7 He walled me in so I couldn’t escape
and put heavy chains on me.
8 Even when I call for help,
he shuts out my prayer.
Lam 3:5-8
9 He has blocked my road with hewn stones
and made my paths crooked.
10 He’s like a bear lying in wait for me,
like a lion in unexpected places.
11 He dragged me off the road, tore me to pieces;
and made me desolate.
12 He bent his bow and made me a target for his arrow;
Lam 3:9-12
13 he shot deep into me the arrows from his quiver.
14 I’m a laughingstock to my people,
mocked in musical ditties all day.
15 He filled me with bitterness
and made me drink wormwood.
16 He cracked my teeth with gravel
and made me grovel in the dust.
Lam 3:13-16
17 I’ve been set apart from peace
and forget what happiness is like.
18 So I say, “My strength is gone,
and so is my hope in the LORD.”
19 Remember my suffering and homelessness.
20 I certainly remember
and am humbled within.
Lam 3:17-20
21 I recall this and have hope from it:
22 The LORD’s love never stops coming;
his mercies don’t end.
23 His faithfulness is great;
it’s renewed every morning.
24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
so I have hope in him.”
Lam 3:21-24
25 The LORD is good to those who depend on him,
people that look for him.
26 They do well to wait silently for his salvation.
27 It’s good for people to bear the yoke when they’re young,
28 to sit alone in silence, since God has laid it on them,
29 to put their mouth in the dust—maybe there’s hope,
30 to turn their cheek to their abuser,
to be filled with disgrace;
31 because the LORD won’t reject forever.
Lam 3:25-31
32 If he causes grief, he’ll have mercy
according to his enduring love;
33 because he doesn’t willingly hurt people or grieve them.
34-36 God doesn’t approve
of crushing every prisoner in the land under his feet,
of depriving people of justice in the presence of the Most High,
of defrauding people in his lawsuit.
37 Who is there that speaks and it happens
unless the Lord has commanded it?
38 Don’t both good and bad come from the Most High?
Lam 3:32-38
39 Why should we complain in light of our sins?
40 Let’s examine our ways and return to the LORD.
41 Let’s lift up our heart and hands toward God in heaven;
42 we’ve sinned and rebelled; you haven’t pardoned us.
43 You’ve covered yourself with anger and chased us;
you’ve slain without pity.
44 You’ve wrapped yourself in a cloud
so no prayer can get to you.
Lam 3:39-44
45 You’ve made us residue and refuse among the nations.
46 Our enemies rail out against us.
47 Panic and pitfall descend on us, devastation and destruction.
48 My eyes run with streams of tears
because my people are being destroyed.
49 My eyes will keep pouring out
50 till the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.
51 My eyes bring pain to my soul
because of all the residents in my city.
52 For no reason my enemies hunted me down like a bird;
53 they’ve silenced me in the pit, and put a stone over me;
54 water closed over my head; I said, “I’m lost.”
55 I called to you, LORD, from down in the pit.
Lam 3:45-55
56 You heard my plea
and didn’t hide from my prayer for relief, my call for help.
57 You came and said, “Don’t be afraid!”
58 Lord, you pled my case and redeemed my life.
59 LORD, you’ve seen my oppression; judge my case.
60 You’ve seen their revenge, their schemes against me.
61 You’ve heard their taunts.
62 My assailants’ whispers aim at me all day.
63 Look at their sitting and rising;
I’m what they mock in their song.
64 Pay them back, LORD, according to what they’ve done;
65 harden their heart so your curse will fall on them.
66 Chase them in anger and destroy them from under the sky!
Lam 3:56-66