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Lamentations 3

I am the man who has seen suffering under the rod of his anger. He has driven me and made me walk in darkness, and not in light. Surely he has turned against me; he turns his hand against me all day long. He has worn out my flesh and my skin. He has broken my bones.

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I'm the man who's seen trouble

I am the man who has seen suffering under the rod of his anger. He has driven me and made me walk in darkness, and not in light. Surely he has turned against me; he turns his hand against me all day long. He has worn out my flesh and my skin. He has broken my bones. He has built against me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship. He has made me live in dark places, like those long dead. He has walled me in so I cannot get out. He has made my chain heavy. Even when I cry out and call for help, he shuts out my prayer. He has blocked my ways with cut stone and made my paths crooked. He has been to me like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding. He turned me off my path and tore me to pieces. He has left me desolate. He has bent his bow and set me up as a target for the arrow. He has driven the arrows of his quiver into my body. I have become a joke to all my people, the butt of their song all day long. He has filled me with bitterness and made me drunk with wormwood. He has broken my teeth with gravel stones and covered me with ashes. You have taken peace far from me. I have forgotten what good is. And I said, My strength is gone, and so is my hope from the Lord. Remember my suffering and my wandering, the wormwood and the bitterness. My soul remembers it still, and is bowed down inside me.

I'm the man who's seen trouble by the rod of his fury. He's led me and made me walk in darkness and not in light. He's turned his hand against me for sure, all day long. He's made my flesh and my skin old. He's broken my bones. He's built up against me and gone round me with bitterness and hardship. He's set me in dark places, like the ones long dead. He's hedged me in so I can't get out. He's made my chain heavy. And when I cry out and call, he shuts out my prayer. He's blocked my ways with cut stone. He's made my paths crooked. He was to me like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in secret places. He's turned my ways aside and pulled me in pieces. He's made me a wreck. He's bent his bow and set me up as a mark for the arrow. He's made the arrows of his quiver go into my kidneys. I was a laughing stock to all my people, their song all day long. He's filled me with bitterness. He's made me drunk with wormwood. He's broken my teeth with gravel. He's covered me with ashes. And you've pushed my soul a long way from peace. I've forgotten what good is. And I said: My strength and my hope from the Lord are gone. Remembering my trouble and my wandering, the wormwood and the bitterness. My soul still remembers it and is bowed down inside me.

I AM the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day. My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones. He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail. He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked. He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places. He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate. He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins. I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day. He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes. And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

1

I am the man who has seen suffering under the rod of his anger.

Plain English

I'm the man who's seen trouble by the rod of his fury.

King James Version, 1611

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

2

He has driven me and made me walk in darkness, and not in light.

Plain English

He's led me and made me walk in darkness and not in light.

King James Version, 1611

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

3

Surely he has turned against me; he turns his hand against me all day long.

Plain English

He's turned his hand against me for sure, all day long.

King James Version, 1611

Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.

4

He has worn out my flesh and my skin. He has broken my bones.

Plain English

He's made my flesh and my skin old. He's broken my bones.

King James Version, 1611

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

5

He has built against me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.

Plain English

He's built up against me and gone round me with bitterness and hardship.

King James Version, 1611

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

6

He has made me live in dark places, like those long dead.

Plain English

He's set me in dark places, like the ones long dead.

King James Version, 1611

He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.

7

He has walled me in so I cannot get out. He has made my chain heavy.

Plain English

He's hedged me in so I can't get out. He's made my chain heavy.

King James Version, 1611

He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.

8

Even when I cry out and call for help, he shuts out my prayer.

Plain English

And when I cry out and call, he shuts out my prayer.

King James Version, 1611

Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.

9

He has blocked my ways with cut stone and made my paths crooked.

Plain English

He's blocked my ways with cut stone. He's made my paths crooked.

King James Version, 1611

He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.

10

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

Plain English

He was to me like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in secret places.

King James Version, 1611

He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.

11

He turned me off my path and tore me to pieces. He has left me desolate.

Plain English

He's turned my ways aside and pulled me in pieces. He's made me a wreck.

King James Version, 1611

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

12

He has bent his bow and set me up as a target for the arrow.

Plain English

He's bent his bow and set me up as a mark for the arrow.

King James Version, 1611

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

13

He has driven the arrows of his quiver into my body.

Plain English

He's made the arrows of his quiver go into my kidneys.

King James Version, 1611

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

14

I have become a joke to all my people, the butt of their song all day long.

Plain English

I was a laughing stock to all my people, their song all day long.

King James Version, 1611

I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.

15

He has filled me with bitterness and made me drunk with wormwood.

Plain English

He's filled me with bitterness. He's made me drunk with wormwood.

King James Version, 1611

He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.

16

He has broken my teeth with gravel stones and covered me with ashes.

Plain English

He's broken my teeth with gravel. He's covered me with ashes.

King James Version, 1611

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

17

You have taken peace far from me. I have forgotten what good is.

Plain English

And you've pushed my soul a long way from peace. I've forgotten what good is.

King James Version, 1611

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

18

And I said, My strength is gone, and so is my hope from the Lord.

Plain English

And I said: My strength and my hope from the Lord are gone.

King James Version, 1611

And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:

19

Remember my suffering and my wandering, the wormwood and the bitterness.

Plain English

Remembering my trouble and my wandering, the wormwood and the bitterness.

King James Version, 1611

Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

20

My soul remembers it still, and is bowed down inside me.

Plain English

My soul still remembers it and is bowed down inside me.

King James Version, 1611

My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

New every morning

But this I call to mind, and so I have hope: It is because of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, and so I will hope in him. The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that a man should hope, and wait quietly, for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone and keep silence, because he has borne it upon him. Let him put his mouth in the dust — there may still be hope. Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, and take his fill of insult. Because the Lord will not cast off forever. Though he brings grief, he will have compassion, because his mercy is great. For he does not willingly afflict or grieve the people. To crush underfoot all the prisoners of the earth, to deny a man his rights before the face of the Most High, to cheat a man in his case — the Lord does not approve of it. Who can speak and have it happen, if the Lord has not commanded it? Do not both bad and good come from the mouth of the Most High? Why should any living man complain, when he is punished for his own sins? Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in the heavens. We have sinned and rebelled, and you have not pardoned.

But this I bring back to my heart, and so I've got hope. It's the Lord's faithful love that we're not finished, because his mercies don't run out. They're new every morning. Your faithfulness is great. The Lord is my share, says my soul, so I'll hope in him. The Lord is good to the ones who wait for him, to the soul that looks for him. It's good to hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It's good for a man to carry the yoke when he's young. He sits on his own and keeps quiet, because he's laid it on him. He puts his mouth in the dust — there might still be hope. He gives his cheek to the one who strikes him. He's filled full with insults. Because the Lord won't throw off forever. But though he brings grief, he'll still have mercy, according to the greatness of his faithful love. Because he doesn't trouble from his heart, or grieve the sons of men. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth, to turn a man's right aside in front of the face of the Most High, to twist a man in his case — the Lord doesn't approve of it. Who's the one who says it and it happens, when the Lord hasn't ordered it? Doesn't both bad and good come out of the mouth of the Most High? Why should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search our ways and try them, and turn back to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands to God in the heavens. We've stepped over the line and rebelled. You haven't forgiven.

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. For the LORD will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth, To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High, To subvert a man in his cause, the LORD approveth not. Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.

21

But this I call to mind, and so I have hope:

Plain English

But this I bring back to my heart, and so I've got hope.

King James Version, 1611

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

22

It is because of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions never fail.

Plain English

It's the Lord's faithful love that we're not finished, because his mercies don't run out.

King James Version, 1611

It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23

They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.

Plain English

They're new every morning. Your faithfulness is great.

King James Version, 1611

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

24

The Lord is my portion, says my soul, and so I will hope in him.

Plain English

The Lord is my share, says my soul, so I'll hope in him.

King James Version, 1611

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

25

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.

Plain English

The Lord is good to the ones who wait for him, to the soul that looks for him.

King James Version, 1611

The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

26

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

Plain English

It's good to hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

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

27

It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.

Plain English

It's good for a man to carry the yoke when he's young.

King James Version, 1611

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

28

Let him sit alone and keep silence, because he has borne it upon him.

Plain English

He sits on his own and keeps quiet, because he's laid it on him.

King James Version, 1611

He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.

29

Let him put his mouth in the dust — there may still be hope.

Plain English

He puts his mouth in the dust — there might still be hope.

King James Version, 1611

He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.

30

Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, and take his fill of insult.

Plain English

He gives his cheek to the one who strikes him. He's filled full with insults.

King James Version, 1611

He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

31

Because the Lord will not cast off forever.

Plain English

Because the Lord won't throw off forever.

King James Version, 1611

For the LORD will not cast off for ever:

32

Though he brings grief, he will have compassion, because his mercy is great.

Plain English

But though he brings grief, he'll still have mercy, according to the greatness of his faithful love.

King James Version, 1611

But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

33

For he does not willingly afflict or grieve the people.

Plain English

Because he doesn't trouble from his heart, or grieve the sons of men.

King James Version, 1611

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

34

To crush underfoot all the prisoners of the earth,

Plain English

To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,

King James Version, 1611

To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,

35

to deny a man his rights before the face of the Most High,

Plain English

to turn a man's right aside in front of the face of the Most High,

King James Version, 1611

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

36

to cheat a man in his case — the Lord does not approve of it.

Plain English

to twist a man in his case — the Lord doesn't approve of it.

King James Version, 1611

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

37

Who can speak and have it happen, if the Lord has not commanded it?

Plain English

Who's the one who says it and it happens, when the Lord hasn't ordered it?

King James Version, 1611

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

38

Do not both bad and good come from the mouth of the Most High?

Plain English

Doesn't both bad and good come out of the mouth of the Most High?

King James Version, 1611

Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

39

Why should any living man complain, when he is punished for his own sins?

Plain English

Why should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

King James Version, 1611

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

40

Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the Lord.

Plain English

Let us search our ways and try them, and turn back to the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

41

Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in the heavens.

Plain English

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

King James Version, 1611

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

42

We have sinned and rebelled, and you have not pardoned.

Plain English

We've stepped over the line and rebelled. You haven't forgiven.

King James Version, 1611

We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.

Let us search our ways

You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us. You have killed without pity. You have covered yourself with a cloud so no prayer can get through. You have made us scum and refuse among the peoples. All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. Fear and a snare have come upon us, desolation and destruction. My eyes run with rivers of water because of the destruction of the daughter of my people. My eyes stream and will not stop. There is no relief, until the Lord looks down and sees from heaven. What I see brings grief to my heart, because of all the daughters of my city. My enemies hunted me down like a bird, for no reason. They cut off my life in the dungeon and cast a stone upon me. The waters closed over my head. I said, I am finished. I called on your name, Lord, out of the depths of the pit. You have heard my voice. Don't hide your ear from my breathing, from my cry. You came near on the day I called on you. You said, Don't be afraid. Lord, you took up my case. You redeemed my life. Lord, you have seen the wrong done to me. Judge my case. You have seen all their vengeance, all their schemes against me. You have heard their insults, Lord, and all their schemes against me — the lips of those who rise against me, and what they mutter against me all day long. Look at them: sitting down or standing up, I am the song they sing. Pay them back, Lord, for what their hands have done. Give them sorrow of heart — your curse upon them. Pursue them in anger and destroy them from under the heavens of the Lord.

You've covered yourself with anger and chased us. You've killed and haven't pitied. You've covered yourself with a cloud so no prayer gets through. You've made us like sweepings and rubbish in the middle of the peoples. All the ones against us have opened their mouth wide at us. Fear and a trap have come on us, wreck and ruin. My eye runs down with rivers of water for the ruin of the daughter of my people. My eye pours down and doesn't stop, with no let-up, till the Lord looks down and sees from heaven. My eye hurts my soul because of all the daughters of my town. The ones who are my enemies for no reason chased me hard like a bird. They've cut off my life in the pit and thrown a stone on me. Waters came over my head. Then I said: I'm cut off. I called on your name, Lord, out of the lowest pit. You've heard my voice. Don't hide your ear at my breathing, at my cry. You came near on the day I called on you. You said: Don't be frightened. Lord, you've taken up the cases of my soul. You've bought my life back. Lord, you've seen the wrong done to me. Judge my case. You've seen all their payback and all their plans against me. You've heard their insults, Lord, and all their plans against me — the lips of the ones who got up against me, and their plotting against me all day long. Look at them sitting down and getting up. I'm their song. Pay them back, Lord, according to the work of their hands. Give them sorrow of heart, your curse on them. Chase them in anger and wreck them from under the heavens of the Lord.

Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied. Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through. Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people. All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction. Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission, Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven. Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city. Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause. They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me. Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off. I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not. O LORD, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life. O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause. Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me. Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me; The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day. Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick. Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands. Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them. Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.

43

You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us. You have killed without pity.

Plain English

You've covered yourself with anger and chased us. You've killed and haven't pitied.

King James Version, 1611

Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.

44

You have covered yourself with a cloud so no prayer can get through.

Plain English

You've covered yourself with a cloud so no prayer gets through.

King James Version, 1611

Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.

45

You have made us scum and refuse among the peoples.

Plain English

You've made us like sweepings and rubbish in the middle of the peoples.

King James Version, 1611

Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.

46

All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.

Plain English

All the ones against us have opened their mouth wide at us.

King James Version, 1611

All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.

47

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

Plain English

Fear and a trap have come on us, wreck and ruin.

King James Version, 1611

Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.

48

My eyes run with rivers of water because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.

Plain English

My eye runs down with rivers of water for the ruin of the daughter of my people.

King James Version, 1611

Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

49

My eyes stream and will not stop. There is no relief,

Plain English

My eye pours down and doesn't stop, with no let-up,

King James Version, 1611

Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,

50

until the Lord looks down and sees from heaven.

Plain English

till the Lord looks down and sees from heaven.

King James Version, 1611

Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.

51

What I see brings grief to my heart, because of all the daughters of my city.

Plain English

My eye hurts my soul because of all the daughters of my town.

King James Version, 1611

Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.

52

My enemies hunted me down like a bird, for no reason.

Plain English

The ones who are my enemies for no reason chased me hard like a bird.

King James Version, 1611

Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.

53

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

Plain English

They've cut off my life in the pit and thrown a stone on me.

King James Version, 1611

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

54

The waters closed over my head. I said, I am finished.

Plain English

Waters came over my head. Then I said: I'm cut off.

King James Version, 1611

Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.

55

I called on your name, Lord, out of the depths of the pit.

Plain English

I called on your name, Lord, out of the lowest pit.

King James Version, 1611

I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.

56

You have heard my voice. Don't hide your ear from my breathing, from my cry.

Plain English

You've heard my voice. Don't hide your ear at my breathing, at my cry.

King James Version, 1611

Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.

57

You came near on the day I called on you. You said, Don't be afraid.

Plain English

You came near on the day I called on you. You said: Don't be frightened.

King James Version, 1611

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

58

Lord, you took up my case. You redeemed my life.

Plain English

Lord, you've taken up the cases of my soul. You've bought my life back.

King James Version, 1611

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

59

Lord, you have seen the wrong done to me. Judge my case.

Plain English

Lord, you've seen the wrong done to me. Judge my case.

King James Version, 1611

O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.

60

You have seen all their vengeance, all their schemes against me.

Plain English

You've seen all their payback and all their plans against me.

King James Version, 1611

Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.

61

You have heard their insults, Lord, and all their schemes against me —

Plain English

You've heard their insults, Lord, and all their plans against me —

King James Version, 1611

Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;

62

the lips of those who rise against me, and what they mutter against me all day long.

Plain English

the lips of the ones who got up against me, and their plotting against me all day long.

King James Version, 1611

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

63

Look at them: sitting down or standing up, I am the song they sing.

Plain English

Look at them sitting down and getting up. I'm their song.

King James Version, 1611

Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.

64

Pay them back, Lord, for what their hands have done.

Plain English

Pay them back, Lord, according to the work of their hands.

King James Version, 1611

Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.

65

Give them sorrow of heart — your curse upon them.

Plain English

Give them sorrow of heart, your curse on them.

King James Version, 1611

Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.

66

Pursue them in anger and destroy them from under the heavens of the Lord.

Plain English

Chase them in anger and wreck them from under the heavens of the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.