Lamentations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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