I am the man who has affliction by the rod of His wrath.

2 He has led me and made me walk in darkness and not in light.

3 Surely He has turned His and against me time and time again throughout the day.

4 He has aged my flesh and my skin, and broken my bones.

5 He has besieged me and surround me with bitterness and woe.

6 He has set me in dark places like the dead of long ago.

7 He has hedged me in so that I cannot get out; he has made my chain heavy.

8 Even when I cry and shout, He shuts out my prayer.

9 He has blocked my ways with hewn stone; He has made my path crooked.

10 He has been to me a bear lying in wait, like a lion in ambush.

11 He has been aside my ways and torn me in pieces; He made me desolate

12 He has bent His bow and set me up as a target for the arrows.

13 He has caused the arrows of His quiver to piece my loins.

14 I have become the ridicule of all my people - their taunting song all the day

15 He has filled me with bitterness, He made me drink wormwood.

16 He has also broken my teeth with gravel, and covered me with ashes

17 You have moved my soul for from peace; I have forgotten prosperity.

18 And I said, "My strength and my hope have perished from the LORD.

19 Remember my affliction and roaming, the wormwood and the gall.

20 My soul still remembers and sink within me.

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

22 Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion fail not.

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

24 "The LORD is my portion, "says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"

25 The LORD is good to those who wait Him, to the soul who seeks Him.

26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

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

28 Let him sit alone and keep silence, because God has laid it on him;

29 Let him put his mouth in the dust - there may yet be hope.

30 Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, and be full of reproach.

31 For the Lord will not cast off forever.

32 Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.

33 For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.

34 To crush under one's feet all prisoner of the earth.

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

36 Or subvert a man in his cause - the Lord does not approve.

37 Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, when the Lord has not command it?

38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that woe and well - being proceed?

39 Why should a living man complain, a man for punishment of his sins.

40 Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD;

41 Let us lift our heart and hands to God in heaven.

42 We have transgressed and rebelled; you have not pardoned.

43 You have covered Yourself with anger and persued us: You have slain and not pitied.

44 You have covered Yourself with a cloud, that prayer shuold not pass through.

45 You have made us an offscourging and refuse in the midst of the peoples.

46 All out enemies have opened their mouths against us.

47 Fear and a snare have come upon us, desolation and destruction.

48 My eyes overflow with rivers of water for destruction of the daughtrer of my people.

49 My eyes flow and do not cease, without interruption,

50 Till the LORD from heaven look down and sees.

51 My eyes bring suffering to my soul because of all daughters of my city.

52 My enemies without cause hinted me down like a bird.

53 They silence my life in the pit and threw stones at me.

54 The waters flowed over my head; I said, "I am cut off!"

55 I called on Your name O LORD, from the lowest pit.

56 You have heard my voice: "Do not hide Your ear  from my sighing from my cry for help."

57 You drew near on the day I called on You, and said, "Do not fear!"

58 O Lord, You have plead the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life.

59 O LORD, You have seen how I am wronged; judge my case.

60 You have seen all their venegeance, all their schemes against me.

61 You have heard their reproach, O LORD, all their schemes against me,

62 The lips of my enemies and their whispering against me all the day.

63 Look at their sitting down and their rising up; I am their taunting song.

64 Repay them O LORD, according to the work of their hands.

65 Give them a veiled heart; Your curse be upon them!

66 In Your anger, persue and destroy them from under the heavens of the LORD. LAMENTATION 3