Jeremiah's Afflictions
א
1I [am] the man[that] hath seenafflictionby the rodof his wrath.
2He hath ledme, and brought[me into] darkness,but not [into] light.
3Surely against me is he turned;he turnethhis hand[against me] all the day.
ב
4My fleshand my skinhath he made old;he hath brokenmy bones.
5He hath builded againstme, and compassed[me] with galland travail.
6He hath setme in dark places,as [they that be] deadof old.
ג
7He hath hedgedme about, that I cannot get out:he hath made my chainheavy.
8Also when I cryand shout,he shutteth outmy prayer.
9He hath inclosedmy wayswith hewn stone,he hath made my pathscrooked.
ד
10He [was] unto me [as] a bearlying in wait,[and as] a lionin secret places.
11He hath turned asidemy ways,and pulled me in pieces:he hath mademe desolate.
12He hath benthis bow,and setme as a markfor the arrow.
ה
13He hath caused the arrowsof his quiverto enterinto my reins.
14I was a derisionto all my people;[and] their songall the day.
15He hath filledme with bitterness,he hath made me drunkenwith wormwood.
ו
16He hath also brokenmy teethwith gravel stones,he hath coveredme with ashes.
17And thou hast removedmy soulfar offfrom peace:I forgatprosperity.
18And I said,My strengthand my hopeis perishedfrom the LORD:
Jeremiah's Hope
ז
19Rememberingmine afflictionand my misery,the wormwoodand the gall.
20My soulhath [them] stillin remembrance,and is humbledin me.
21This I recallto my mind,therefore have I hope.
ח
22[It is of] the LORD'Smerciesthat we are not consumed,because his compassionsfailnot.
23[They are] newevery morning:great[is] thy faithfulness.
24The LORD[is] my portion,saithmy soul;therefore will I hopein him.
ט
25The LORD[is] goodunto them that waitfor him, to the soul[that] seekethhim.
26[It is] goodthat [a man] should both hopeand quietly waitfor the salvationof the LORD.
27[It is] goodfor a manthat he bearthe yokein his youth.
י
28He sittethaloneand keepeth silence,because he hath borne[it] upon him.
29He puttethhis mouthin the dust;if so be there may behope.
30He giveth[his] cheekto him that smitethhim: he is filled fullwith reproach.
כ
31For the Lordwill not cast offfor ever:
32But though he cause grief,yet will he have compassionaccording to the multitudeof his mercies.
33For he doth not afflictwillinglynor grievethe childrenof men.
ל
34To crushunder his feetall the prisonersof the earth,
35To turn asidethe rightof a manbefore the faceof the most High,
36To subverta manin his cause,the Lordapprovethnot.
God's Justice
מ
37Who [is] he [that] saith,and it cometh to pass, [when] the Lordcommandeth[it] not?
38Out of the mouthof the most Highproceedethnot eviland good?
39Wherefore doth a livingmancomplain,a manfor the punishment of his sins?
נ
40Let us searchand tryour ways,and turn againto the LORD.
41Let us lift upour heartwith [our] handsunto Godin the heavens.
42Wehave transgressedand have rebelled:thou hast not pardoned.
ס
43Thou hast coveredwith anger,and persecutedus: thou hast slain,thou hast not pitied.
44Thou hast coveredthyself with a cloud,that [our] prayershould not pass through.
45Thou hast madeus [as] the offscouringand refusein the midstof the people.
פ
46All our enemieshave openedtheir mouthsagainst us.
47Fearand a snareis come upon us, desolationand destruction.
48Mine eyerunneth downwith riversof waterfor the destructionof the daughterof my people.
ע
49Mine eyetrickleth down,and ceasethnot, without any intermission,
50Till the LORDlook down,and beholdfrom heaven.
51Mine eyeaffectethmine heartbecause of all the daughtersof my city.
צ
52Mine enemieschasedme sore,like a bird,without cause.
53They have cut offmy lifein the dungeon,and casta stoneupon me.
54Watersflowed overmine head;[then] I said,I am cut off.
A Prayer for Deliverance
ק
55I calledupon thy name,O LORD,out of the lowdungeon.
56Thou hast heardmy voice:hidenot thine earat my breathing,at my cry.
57Thou drewest nearin the day[that] I calledupon thee: thou saidst,Fearnot.
ר
58O Lord,thou hast pleadedthe causesof my soul;thou hast redeemedmy life.
59O LORD,thou hast seenmy wrong:judgethou my cause.
60Thou hast seenall their vengeance[and] all their imaginationsagainst me.
ש
61Thou hast heardtheir reproach,O LORD,[and] all their imaginationsagainst me;
62The lipsof those that rose upagainst me, and their deviceagainst me all the day.
63Beholdtheir sitting down,and their rising up;I [am] their musick.
ת
64Renderunto them a recompence,O LORD,according to the workof their hands.
65Givethem sorrowof heart,thy curseunto them.
66Persecuteand destroythem in angerfrom under the heavensof the LORD.
