Lamentations 3

1I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

1I am the man who has seen trouble by the rod of his wrath.

1I <FI>am<Fi> the man <FI>who<Fi> hath seen affliction By the rod of His wrath.

1Aleph. I am the man that see my poverty by the rod of his indignation.

2He hath led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light.

2By him I have been made to go in the dark where there is no light.

2Me He hath led, and causeth to go <FI>in<Fi> darkness, and without light.

2Aleph. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, and not into light.

3Surely against me he turneth his hand again and again all the day.

3Truly against me his hand has been turned again and again all the day.

3Surely against me He turneth back, He turneth His hand all the day.

3Aleph. Only against me he hath turned, and turned again his hand all the day.

4My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.

4My flesh and my skin have been used up by him and my bones broken.

4He hath worn out my flesh and my skin. He hath broken my bones.

4Beth. My skin and my flesh he hath made old, he hath broken my bones.

5He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.

5He has put up a wall against me, shutting me in with bitter sorrow.

5He hath built up against me, And setteth round poverty and weariness.

5Beth. He hath built round about me, and he hath compassed me with gall, and labour.

6He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.

6He has kept me in dark places, like those who have been long dead.

6In dark places He hath caused me to dwell, As the dead of old.

6Beth. He hath set me in dark places as those that are dead for ever.

7He hath walled me about, that I cannot go forth; he hath made my chain heavy.

7He has put a wall round me, so that I am not able to go out; he has made great the weight of my chain.

7He hath hedged me about, and I go not out, He hath made heavy my fetter.

7Ghimel. He hath built against me round about, that I may not get out: he hath made my fetters heavy.

8Yea, when I cry, and call for help, he shutteth out my prayer.

8Even when I send up a cry for help, he keeps my prayer shut out.

8Also when I call and cry out, He hath shut out my prayer.

8Ghimel. Yea, and when I cry, and entreat, he hath shut out my prayer.

9He hath walled up my ways with hewn stone; he hath made my paths crooked.

9He has put up a wall of cut stones about my ways, he has made my roads twisted.

9He hath hedged my ways with hewn work, My paths He hath made crooked.

9Ghimel. He hath shut up my ways with square stones, he hath turned my paths upside down.

10He is unto me as a bear lying in wait, as a lion in secret places.

10He is like a bear waiting for me, like a lion in secret places.

10A bear lying in wait He <FI>is<Fi> to me, A lion in secret hiding-places.

10Daleth. He is become to me as a bear lying in wait: as a lion in secret places.

11He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate.

11By him my ways have been turned on one side and I have been pulled in bits; he has made me waste.

11My ways He is turning aside, and He pulleth me in pieces, He hath made me a desolation.

11Daleth. He hath turned aside my paths, and hath broken me in pieces, he hath made me desolate.

12He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.

12With his bow bent, he has made me the mark for his arrows.

12He hath trodden His bow, And setteth me up as a mark for an arrow.

12Daleth. He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for his arrows.

13He hath caused the shafts of his quiver to enter into my reins.

13He has let loose his arrows into the inmost parts of my body.

13He hath caused to enter into my reins The sons of His quiver.

13He. He hath shot into my reins the daughters of his quiver.

14I am become a derision to all my people, and their song all the day.

14I have become the sport of all the peoples; I am their song all the day.

14I have been a derision to all my people, Their song all the day.

14He. I am made a derision to all my people, their song all the day long.

15He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath sated me with wormwood.

15He has made my life nothing but pain, he has given me the bitter root in full measure.

15He hath filled me with bitter things, He hath filled me <FI>with<Fi> wormwood.

15He. He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath inebriated me with wormwood.

16He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones; he hath covered me with ashes.

16By him my teeth have been broken with crushed stones, and I am bent low in the dust.

16And He breaketh with gravel my teeth, He hath covered me with ashes.

16Vau. And he hath broken my teeth one by one, he hath fed me with ashes.

17And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace; I forgat prosperity.

17My soul is sent far away from peace, I have no more memory of good.

17And Thou castest off from peace my soul, I have forgotten prosperity.

17Vau. And my soul is removed far off from peace, I have forgotten good things.

18And I said, My strength is perished, and mine expectation from Jehovah.

18And I said, My strength is cut off, and my hope from the Lord.

18And I say, Perished hath my strength and my hope from Jehovah.

18Vau. And I said: My end and my hope is perished from the Lord.

19Remember mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

19Keep in mind my trouble and my wandering, the bitter root and the poison.

19Remember my affliction and my mourning, Wormwood and gall!

19Zain. Remember my poverty, and transgression, the wormwood and the gall.

20My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is bowed down within me.

20My soul still keeps the memory of them; and is bent down in me.

20Remember well, and bow down doth my soul in me.

20Zain. I will be mindful and remember, and my soul shall languish within me.

21This I recall to my mind; therefore have I hope.

21This I keep in mind, and because of this I have hope.

21This I turn to my heart--therefore I hope.

21Zain. These things I shall think over in my heart, therefore will I hope.

22It is of Jehovah’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

22It is through the Lord's love that we have not come to destruction, because his mercies have no limit.

22The kindnesses of Jehovah! For we have not been consumed, For not ended have His mercies.

22Heth. The mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed: because his commiserations have not failed.

23They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.

23They are new every morning; great is your good faith.

23New every morning, abundant <FI>is<Fi> thy faithfulness.

23Heth. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.

24Jehovah is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

24I said to myself, The Lord is my heritage; and because of this I will have hope in him.

24My portion <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah, hath my soul said, Therefore I hope for Him.

24Heth. The Lord is my portion, said my soul: therefore will I wait for him.

25Jehovah is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

25The Lord is good to those who are waiting for him, to the soul which is looking for him.

25Good <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah to those waiting for Him, To the soul <FI>that<Fi> seeketh Him.

25Teth. The Lord is good to them that hope in him, to the soul that seeketh him.

26It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Jehovah.

26It is good to go on hoping and quietly waiting for the salvation of the Lord.

26Good! when one doth stay and stand still For the salvation of Jehovah.

26Teth. It is good to wait with silence for the salvation of God.

27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

27It is good for a man to undergo the yoke when he is young.

27Good for a man that he beareth a yoke in his youth.

27Teth. It is good for a man, when he hath borne the yoke from his youth.

28Let him sit alone and keep silence, because he hath laid it upon him.

28Let him be seated by himself, saying nothing, because he has put it on him.

28He sitteth alone, and is silent, For He hath laid <FI>it<Fi> upon him.

28Jod. He shall sit solitary, and hold his peace: because he hath taken it up upon himself.

29Let him put his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope.

29Let him put his mouth in the dust, if by chance there may be hope.

29He putteth in the dust his mouth, if so be there is hope.

29Jod. He shall put his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope.

30Let him give his cheek to him that smiteth him; let him be filled full with reproach.

30Let his face be turned to him who gives him blows; let him be full of shame.

30He giveth to his smiter the cheek, He is filled with reproach.

30Jod. He shall give his cheek to him that striketh him, he shall be filled with reproaches.

31For the Lord will not cast off for ever.

31For the Lord does not give a man up for ever.

31For the Lord doth not cast off to the age.

31Caph. For the Lord will not cast off for ever.

32For though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

32For though he sends grief, still he will have pity in the full measure of his love.

32For though He afflicted, yet He hath pitied, According to the abundance of His kindness.

32Caph. For if he hath cast off, he will also have mercy, according to the multitude of his mercies.

33For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.

33For he has no pleasure in troubling and causing grief to the children of men.

33For He hath not afflicted with His heart, Nor doth He grieve the sons of men.

33Caph. For he hath not willingly afflicted, nor cast off the children of men.

34To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth,

34In a man's crushing under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,

34To bruise under one's feet any bound ones of earth,

34Lamed. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the land,

35To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High,

35In his turning away the right of a man before the face of the Most High.

35To turn aside the judgment of a man, Over-against the face of the Most High,

35Lamed. To turn aside the judgment of a man before the face of the most High,

36To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.

36In his doing wrong to a man in his cause, the Lord has no pleasure.

36To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord hath not approved.

36Lamed. To destroy a man wrongfully in his judgment, the Lord hath not approved.

37Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

37Who is able to say a thing, and give effect to it, if it has not been ordered by the Lord?

37Who <FI>is<Fi> this--he hath said, and it is, <FI>And<Fi> the Lord hath not commanded <FI>it<Fi> ?

37Mem. Who is he that hath commanded a thing to be done, when the Lord commandeth it not?

38Out of the mouth of the Most High cometh there not evil and good?

38Do not evil and good come from the mouth of the Most High?

38From the mouth of the Most High Go not forth the evils and the good.

38Mem. Shall not both evil and good proceed out of the mouth of the Highest?

39Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

39What protest may a living man make, even a man about the punishment of his sin?

39What--sigh habitually doth a living man, A man for his sin?

39Mem. Why hath a living man murmured, man suffering for his sins?

40Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah.

40Let us make search and put our ways to the test, turning again to the Lord;

40We search our ways, and investigate, And turn back unto Jehovah.

40Nun. Let us search our ways, and seek, and return to the Lord.

41Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

41Lifting up our hearts with our hands to God in the heavens.

41We lift up our heart on the hands unto God in the heavens.

41Nun. Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to the Lord in the heavens.

42We have transgressed and have rebelled; thou hast not pardoned.

42We have done wrong and gone against your law; we have not had your forgiveness.

42We--we have transgressed and rebelled, Thou--Thou hast not forgiven.

42Nun. We have done wickedly, and provoked thee to wrath: therefore thou art inexorable.

43Thou hast covered with anger and pursued us; thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.

43Covering yourself with wrath you have gone after us, cutting us off without pity;

43Thou hast covered Thyself with anger, And dost pursue us; Thou hast slain--Thou hast not pitied.

43Samech. Thou hast covered in thy wrath, and hast struck us: thou hast killed and hast not spared.

44Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.

44Covering yourself with a cloud, so that prayer may not get through.

44Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, So that prayer doth not pass through.

44Samech. Thou hast set a cloud before thee, that our prayer may not pass through.

45Thou hast made us an offscouring and refuse in the midst of the peoples.

45You have made us like waste and that for which there is no use, among the peoples.

45Offscouring and refuse Thou dost make us In the midst of the peoples.

45Samech. Thou hast made me as an outcast, and refuse in the midst of the people.

46All our enemies have opened their mouth wide against us.

46The mouths of all our haters are open wide against us.

46Opened against us their mouth have all our enemies.

46Phe. All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.

47Fear and the pit are come upon us, devastation and destruction.

47Fear and deep waters have come on us, wasting and destruction.

47Fear and a snare hath been for us, Desolation and destruction.

47Phe. Prophecy is become to us a fear, and a snare, and destruction.

48Mine eye runneth down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

48Rivers of water are running down from my eyes, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

48Rivulets of water go down my eye, For the destruction of the daughter of my people.

48Phe. My eye hath run down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

49Mine eye poureth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,

49My eyes are streaming without stopping, they have no rest,

49Mine eye is poured out, And doth not cease without intermission,

49Ain. My eye is afflicted, and hath not been quiet, because there was no rest:

50Till Jehovah look down, and behold from heaven.

50Till the Lord's eye is turned on me, till he sees my trouble from heaven.

50Till Jehovah looketh and seeth from the heavens,

50Ain. Till the Lord regarded and looked down from the heavens.

51Mine eye affecteth my soul, because of all the daughters of my city.

51The Lord is unkind to my soul, more than all the daughters of my town.

51My eye affecteth my soul, Because of all the daughters of my city.

51Ain. My eye hath wasted my soul because of all the daughters of my city.

52They have chased me sore like a bird, they that are mine enemies without cause.

52They who are against me without cause have gone hard after me as if I was a bird;

52Hunted me sore as a bird have my enemies without cause.

52Sade. My enemies have chased me and caught me like a bird, without cause.

53They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and have cast a stone upon me.

53They have put an end to my life in the prison, stoning me with stones.

53They have cut off in a pit my life, And they cast a stone against me.

53Sade. My life is fallen into the pit, and they have laid a stone over me.

54Waters flowed over my head; I said, I am cut off.

54Waters were flowing over my head; I said, I am cut off.

54Flowed have waters over my head, I have said, I have been cut off.

54Sade. Waters have flowed over my head: I said: I am cut off.

55I called upon thy name, O Jehovah, out of the lowest dungeon.

55I was making prayer to your name, O Lord, out of the lowest prison.

55I called Thy name, O Jehovah, from the lower pit.

55Coph. I have called upon thy name, O Lord, from the lowest pit.

56Thou heardest my voice; hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.

56My voice came to you; let not your ear be shut to my breathing, to my cry.

56My voice Thou hast heard, Hide not Thine ear at my breathing--at my cry.

56Coph. Thou hast heard my voice: turn not away thy ear from my sighs, and cries.

57Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee; thou saidst, Fear not.

57You came near in the day when I made my prayer to you: you said, Have no fear.

57Thou hast drawn near in the day I call Thee, Thou hast said, Fear not.

57Coph. Thou drewest near in the day, when I called upon thee, thou saidst: Fear not.

58O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

58O Lord, you have taken up the cause of my soul, you have made my life safe.

58Thou hast pleaded, O Lord, the pleadings of my soul, Thou hast redeemed my life.

58Res. Thou hast judged, O Lord, the cause of my soul, thou the Redeemer of my life.

59O Jehovah, thou hast seen my wrong; judge thou my cause.

59O Lord, you have seen my wrong; be judge in my cause.

59Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, my overthrow, Judge Thou my cause.

59Res. Thou hast seen, O Lord, their iniquity against me: judge thou my judgment.

60Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their devices against me.

60You have seen all the evil rewards they have sent on me, and all their designs against me.

60Thou hast seen all their vengeance, All their thoughts of me.

60Res. Thou hast seen all their fury, and all their thoughts against me.

61Thou hast heard their reproach, O Jehovah, and all their devices against me,

61Their bitter words have come to your ears, O Lord, and all their designs against me;

61Thou hast heard their reproach, O Jehovah, All their thoughts against me,

61Sin. Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, all their imaginations against me.

62The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.

62The lips of those who came up against me, and their thoughts against me all the day.

62The lips of my withstanders, Even their meditation against me all the day.

62Sin. The lips of them that rise up against me: and their devices against me all the day.

63Behold thou their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their song.

63Take note of them when they are seated, and when they get up; I am their song.

63Their sitting down, and their rising up, Behold attentively, I <FI>am<Fi> their song.

63Sin. Behold their sitting down, and their rising up, I am their song.

64Thou wilt render unto them a recompense, O Jehovah, according to the work of their hands.

64You will give them their reward, O Lord, answering to the work of their hands.

64Thou returnest to them the deed, O Jehovah, According to the work of their hands.

64Thau. Thou shalt render them a recompense, O Lord, according to the works of their hands.

65Thou wilt give them hardness of heart, thy curse unto them.

65You will let their hearts be covered over with your curse on them.

65Thou givest to them a covered heart, Thy curse to them.

65Thau. Thou shalt give them a buckler of heart, thy labour.

66Thou wilt pursue them in anger, and destroy them from under the heavens of Jehovah.

66You will go after them in wrath, and put an end to them from under the heavens of the Lord.

66Thou pursuest in anger, and destroyest them, From under the heavens of Jehovah!

66Thau. Thou shalt persecute them in anger, and shalt destroy them from under the heavens, O Lord.