(KJV) Lamentations 3¹

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⥃The Prophet’s Afflictions

[1] I [am] the man² [that] hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath³. [2] He hath led me, and brought⁴ [me into] darkness, but not [into] light. [3] Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand [against me] all the day.⁵ [4] My flesh⁶ and my skin hath he made old; he hath⁷ broken my bones. [5] He hath builded⁸ against me, and compassed [me] with gall⁹ and travail. [6] He hath set me in dark¹⁰ places, as [they that be] dead of old. [7] He hath hedged¹¹ me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made¹² my chain heavy. [8] Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.¹³ [9] He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made¹⁴ my paths crooked. [10] He [was] unto¹⁵ me [as] a bear lying in wait, [and as] a lion in secret¹⁶ places. [11] He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled¹⁷ me in pieces: he hath made¹⁸ me desolate. [12] He hath bent¹⁹ his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. [13] He hath caused the arrows²⁰ of his quiver to enter into my reins. [14] I was a derision to all my people; [and] their song all the day.²¹ [15] He hath filled²² me with bitterness²³, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. [16] He hath also broken²⁴ my teeth with gravel²⁵ stones, he hath²⁶ covered me with ashes²⁷. [17] And thou²⁸ hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat²⁹ prosperity³⁰. [18] And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:³¹

⥃The Prophet’s Hope

[19] Remembering³² mine affliction and my misery, the³³ wormwood and the gall. [20] My soul hath³⁴ [them] still in remembrance, and is humbled³⁵ in me. [21] This I recall to my mind³⁶, therefore³⁷ have I hope.

[22] [¶][It is of³⁸] the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because³⁹ his compassions fail not. [23] [They are] new⁴⁰ every morning: great⁴¹ [is] thy faithfulness. [24] The Lord [is] my portion⁴², saith my soul; therefore⁴³ will I hope in him. [25] The Lord [is] good⁴⁴ unto⁴⁵ them that wait for him, to the soul [that] seeketh him. [26] [It is] good⁴⁶ that [a man] should both hope⁴⁷ and quietly⁴⁸ wait for the salvation of the Lord. [27] [It is] good for a man that he bear⁴⁹ the yoke in his youth. [28] He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne [it] upon him.⁵⁰ [29] He putteth⁵¹ his mouth in the dust; if⁵² so be there may be hope. [30] He giveth [his⁵³] cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled⁵⁴ full with reproach. [31] For the Lord will not cast off for ever:⁵⁵ [32] But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.⁵⁶ [33] For he doth not afflict⁵⁷ willingly⁵⁸ nor grieve the children of men. [34] To crush⁵⁹ under his feet all⁶⁰ the prisoners of the earth, [35] To turn⁶¹ aside the right of a man before the face of the most High⁶², [36] To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord⁶³ approveth⁶⁴ not.

⥃God’s Justice

[37] Who [is] he [that] saith⁶⁵, 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?⁶⁶ [39] Wherefore doth⁶⁷ a living man complain⁶⁸, a man⁶⁹ for the punishment of his sins? [40] Let us search⁷⁰ and try our ways, and turn⁷¹ again to the Lord. [41] Let us lift⁷² up our heart with⁷³ [our] hands unto God in the heavens. [42] We have transgressed⁷⁴ and have rebelled: thou⁷⁵ hast not pardoned. [43] Thou hast covered⁷⁶ with anger, and persecuted⁷⁷ us: thou hast slain⁷⁸, thou hast not pitied. [44] Thou hast covered⁷⁹ thyself with a cloud, that⁸⁰ [our] prayer should not pass through. [45] Thou has⁸¹t made us [as] the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people. [46] All our enemies have⁸² opened their mouths against us. [47] Fear⁸³ and a snare is come upon us, desolation⁸⁴ and destruction. [48] Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.⁸⁵ [49] Mine eye trickleth down, and⁸⁶ ceaseth not, without any intermission, [50] Till the Lord look down, and behold from heaven.⁸⁷ [51] Mine eye⁸⁸ affecteth mine heart⁸⁹ because of all⁹⁰ the daughters⁹¹ of my city. [52] Mine enemies chased⁹² me sore, like a bird, without⁹³ cause. [53] They have cut⁹⁴ off my life in the dungeon, and⁹⁵ cast a stone upon me. [54] Waters⁹⁶ flowed over mine head; [then] I said⁹⁷, I am cut off.

[55] I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon.⁹⁸ [56] Thou hast⁹⁹ heard my voice: hide¹⁰⁰ not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. [57] Thou drewest¹⁰¹ near in the day [that] I called upon thee: thou saidst¹⁰², Fear not. [58] O Lord, thou hast pleaded¹⁰³ the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed¹⁰⁴ my life. [59] O Lord, thou hast¹⁰⁵ seen my wrong: judge¹⁰⁶ thou my cause. [60] Thou hast seen all their vengeance [and] all their imaginations against me.¹⁰⁷ [61] Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, [and] all their imaginations against me;¹⁰⁸ [62] The lips¹⁰⁹ of those that rose up against me, and¹¹⁰ their device against me all the day. [63] Behold their sitting¹¹¹ down, and their rising up; I [am¹¹²] their musick.

[64] [¶]Render unto them a recompence, O Lord, according to the work of their hands.¹¹³ [65] Give them sorrow¹¹⁴ of heart, thy¹¹⁵ curse unto them. [66] Persecute¹¹⁶ and destroy them in anger from under¹¹⁷ the heavens¹¹⁸ of the Lord.

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