Lamentations 3
Hope through God’s Mercy
1I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath.23He has driven me away and forced me to walk in darkness instead of light.4
5Yes, he repeatedly turns his hand against me all day long.6ב Beth
7He has worn away my flesh and skin; he has broken my bones.8
9He has laid siege against me, encircling me with bitterness and hardship.10
11He has made me dwell in darkness like those who have been dead for ages.12ג Gimel
13He has walled me in so I cannot get out; he has weighed me down with chains.14
15Even when I cry out and plead for help, he blocks out my prayer.16
17He has walled in my ways with blocks of stone; he has made my paths crooked.18ד Daleth
19He is a bear waiting in ambush, a lion in hiding.20
21He forced me off my way and tore me to pieces; he left me desolate.22
23He strung his bow and set me as the target for his arrow.24ה He
25He pierced my kidneys with shafts from his quiver.26
27I am a laughingstock to all my people, mocked by their songs all day long.28
29He filled me with bitterness, satiated me with wormwood.30ו Waw
31He ground my teeth with gravel and made me cower in the dust.32
33I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is.34
35Then I thought, “My future is lost, as well as my hope from the Lord.”36ז Zayin
37Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison.38
39I continually remember them and have become depressed.40
41Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope:42ח Cheth
43Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end.44
45They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!46
47I say, “The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in him.”48ט Teth
49The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the person who seeks him.50
51It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.52
53It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is still young.54י Yod
55Let him sit alone and be silent, for God has disciplined him.56
57Let him put his mouth in the dust — perhaps there is still hope.58
59Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him; let him be filled with disgrace.60כ Kaph
61For the Lord will not reject us forever.62
63Even if he causes suffering, he will show compassion according to the abundance of his faithful love.64
65For he does not enjoy bringing affliction or suffering on mankind.66ל Lamed
67Crushing all the prisoners of the land beneath one’s feet,68
69denying justice to a man in the presence of the Most High,70
71or subverting a person in his lawsuit — the Lord does not approve of these things.72מ Mem
73Who is there who speaks and it happens, unless the Lord has ordained it?74
75Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High?76
77Why should any living person complain, any man, because of the punishment for his sins?78נ Nun
79Let’s examine and probe our ways, and turn back to the Lord.80
81Let’s lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven:82
83“We have sinned and rebelled; you have not forgiven.84ס Samek
85“You have covered yourself in anger and pursued us; you have killed without compassion.86
87You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through.88
89You have made us disgusting filth among the peoples.90פ Pe
91“All our enemies open their mouths against us.92
93We have experienced panic and pitfall, devastation and destruction.”94
95My eyes flow with streams of tears because of the destruction of my dear people.96ע Ayin
97My eyes overflow unceasingly, without end,98
99until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees.100
101My eyes bring me grief because of the fate of all the women in my city.102צ Tsade
103For no reason, my enemies hunted me like a bird.104
105They smothered my life in a pit and threw stones on me.106
107Water flooded over my head, and I thought, “I’m going to die!”108ק Qoph
109I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit.110
111You heard my plea: Do not ignore my cry for relief.112
113You came near whenever I called you; you said, “Do not be afraid.”114ר Resh
115You championed my cause, Lord; you redeemed my life.116
117Lord, you saw the wrong done to me; judge my case.118
119You saw all their vengefulness, all their plots against me.120שׂ Sin / שׁ Shin
121Lord, you heard their insults, all their plots against me.122
123The slander and murmuring of my opponents attack me all day long.124
125When they sit and when they rise, look, I am mocked by their songs.126ת Taw
127You will pay them back what they deserve, Lord, according to the work of their hands.128
129You will give them a heart filled with anguish. May your curse be on them!130
131You will pursue them in anger and destroy them under your heavens.132