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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Lamentations 3 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/lamentations/3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/lamentations/3-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > Lamentations 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../lamentations/2.htm" title="Lamentations 2">◄</a> Lamentations 3 <a href="../lamentations/4.htm" title="Lamentations 4">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/lamentations/3.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap">The LORD’s Purposes for Affliction<a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-1.htm">1</a>I am a man familiar with affliction— under the rod of God’s<a href="#ftn" title="3:1 Lit. his">a</a> anger. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-2.htm">2</a>He has led me—brought me into darkness, not into light. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-3.htm">3</a>He truly turned his hand against me, again and again, all day long. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-4.htm">4</a>He made my flesh and skin prematurely old; he broke my bones. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-5.htm">5</a>He laid siege against me, surrounding me with bitterness and suffering. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-6.htm">6</a>He has forced me to live in darkness, like those who are long dead. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-7.htm">7</a>He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he placed heavy chains on me. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-8.htm">8</a>Indeed, when I cry out, calling for help, he shuts out my prayer. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-9.htm">9</a>He impeded my way with blocks of stone, making my paths uneven. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-10.htm">10</a>He is like<a href="#ftn" title="3:10 The Heb. lacks like">b</a> a bear that lies in wait for me, a lion in hiding. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-11.htm">11</a>He forced me off my path, tearing me to pieces and making me desolate. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-12.htm">12</a>He bent his bow, aiming at me with his arrow. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-13.htm">13</a>He caused his war arrows<a href="#ftn" title="3:13 Lit. caused the sons of his arrows">c</a> to pierce my vital organs. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-14.htm">14</a>I have become a laughingstock to all my people, the object of their taunts throughout the day. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-15.htm">15</a>He has filled me with bitterness, making me drink wormwood. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-16.htm">16</a>He broke my teeth on gravel, covering me with dust. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-17.htm">17</a>You have removed peace from my life; I have forgotten what prosperity is.<a href="#ftn" title="3:17 Lit. forgotten prosperity">d</a> <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-18.htm">18</a>So I say, “My strength is gone as is my hope in the LORD.” <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-19.htm">19</a>Remember my affliction and homelessness— wormwood and gall! <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-20.htm">20</a>My mind keeps reflecting on it, and I become depressed.<a href="#ftn" title="3:20 Lit. and sinks within me">e</a> <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-21.htm">21</a>This is what comes to mind, and therefore I have hope: <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-22.htm">22</a>Because of the LORD’s gracious love we are not consumed, since his compassions never end. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-23.htm">23</a>They are new every morning— great is your faithfulness! <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-24.htm">24</a>“The LORD is all I have,”<a href="#ftn" title="3:24 Lit. is my portion">f</a> says my soul, “Therefore I will trust in him.” <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-25.htm">25</a>The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the person who searches for him. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-26.htm">26</a>It is good to hope and wait patiently for the LORD’s salvation. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-27.htm">27</a>It is good when a young man carries the yoke of discipline<a href="#ftn" title="3:27 The Heb. lacks of discipline">g</a> in his youth. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-28.htm">28</a>He is to sit apart and remain silent, because the LORD<a href="#ftn" title="3:28 Lit. because he">h</a> has laid it upon him. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-29.htm">29</a>Let him fall face down in the dust, so there may yet be hope. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-30.htm">30</a>He will endure being slapped in the face, bringing him public disgrace. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-31.htm">31</a>Indeed, the Lord will not always reject us<a href="#ftn" title="3:31 The Heb. lacks us">i</a> — <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-32.htm">32</a>though he causes grief, his compassion abounds according to his gracious love. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-33.htm">33</a>For he does not deliberately hurt or grieve human beings. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-34.htm">34</a>When any of the prisoners of the earth are crushed underfoot, <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-35.htm">35</a>when a person’s rights are perverted in defiance of the Most High. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-36.htm">36</a>When a man is thwarted in his appeal, does the Lord condone<a href="#ftn" title="3:36 Lit. see">j</a> it? <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-37.htm">37</a>Who can command, and it happens, without the Lord having ordered it? <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-38.htm">38</a>Do not both good and evil things proceed from the mouth of the Most High? <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-39.htm">39</a>Why should anyone living complain, any mortal, about being punished for sin? <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-40.htm">40</a>Let us examine our lifestyles, putting them to the test, and turn back to the LORD. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-41.htm">41</a>Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-42.htm">42</a>As for us, we have sinned and rebelled; but you have not pardoned us.<a href="#ftn" title="3:42 The Heb. lacks us">k</a> <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-43.htm">43</a>Clothing yourself with anger, you pursued us. You killed without pity, <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-44.htm">44</a>You covered yourself with a cloud that prayer cannot pierce. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-45.htm">45</a>You have reduced us to scum and garbage among the nations.<a href="#ftn" title="3:45 Or peoples">l</a> <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-46.htm">46</a>All our enemies jeer at us with gaping mouths. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-47.htm">47</a>Panic and pitfalls beset us, along with devastation and ruin. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-48.htm">48</a>My eyes run with rivers of tears over the destruction of my cherished<a href="#ftn" title="3:48 Lit. of the daughter of">m</a> people. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-49.htm">49</a>My tears pour<a href="#ftn" title="3:49 Lit. My eye pours">n</a> down ceaselessly; I am far from relief <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-50.htm">50</a>until the LORD bends down to see from heaven. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-51.htm">51</a>What I see<a href="#ftn" title="3:51 Lit. My eye">o</a> grieves my soul because of all the young women<a href="#ftn" title="3:51 Lit. the daughters">p</a> of my city. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-52.htm">52</a>My enemies hunted me like a bird, viciously and without justification. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-53.htm">53</a>They dumped me alive into a pit, sealing me in with stone.<a href="#ftn" title="3:53 Lit. pit, casting a stone at me">q</a> <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-54.htm">54</a>Water closed over my head, and I said, “I’m a dead man.”<a href="#ftn" title="3:54 Lit. “I’m cut off.”">r</a> <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-55.htm">55</a>I called on your name, LORD, from the depths of the Pit,<a href="#ftn" title="3:55 i.e. the place of punishment in the afterlife">s</a> <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-56.htm">56</a>You heard my voice— don’t close your ear to my sighs and cries.<a href="#ftn" title="3:56 Lit. my relief, to my cry">t</a> <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-57.htm">57</a>You drew near when I called out to you. You said, “Stop being afraid” <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-58.htm">58</a>Lord, you have defended my cause; you have redeemed my life. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-59.htm">59</a>LORD, you observed how I have been wronged; now make your ruling in my case. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-60.htm">60</a>You examined their plans for vengeance, all of their plots against me. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-61.htm">61</a>LORD, you listened to their insults— all their plots against me, <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-62.htm">62</a>the whisperings of my opponents, their scheming against me all day long. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-63.htm">63</a>Watch! Whether they sit down or stand up, they mock me with their songs. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-64.htm">64</a>Pay them back, LORD, according to their actions. <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-65.htm">65</a>Give them an anguished heart; may your curse be upon them! <a href="http://biblehub.com/lamentations/3-66.htm">66</a>Pursue them in your anger and destroy them from under the LORD’s heaven.<hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><A name="ftn"></a>Footnotes: a 3:1 Lit. his b 3:10 The Heb. lacks like c 3:13 Lit. caused the sons of his arrows d 3:17 Lit. forgotten prosperity e 3:20 Lit. and sinks within me f 3:24 Lit. is my portion g 3:27 The Heb. lacks of discipline h 3:28 Lit. because he i 3:31 The Heb. lacks us j 3:36 Lit. see k 3:42 The Heb. lacks us l 3:45 Or peoples m 3:48 Lit. of the daughter of n 3:49 Lit. My eye pours o 3:51 Lit. My eye p 3:51 Lit. the daughters q 3:53 Lit. pit, casting a stone at me r 3:54 Lit. “I’m cut off.” s 3:55 i.e. the place of punishment in the afterlife t 3:56 Lit. my relief, to my cry <hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. <a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../lamentations/2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Lamentations 2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Lamentations 2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../lamentations/4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Lamentations 4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Lamentations 4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/lamentations/3-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"> <div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div></td></tr></table> <table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div></td></tr></table></div> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/botmenubhnm2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe><div align="center"> </div></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>