Lamentations 3 NIV - NIV | Parallel Bible (2024)

New International Version NIV

New International Version NIV

1 I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of the LORD’s wrath.

1I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of the LORD’s wrath.

2 He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light;

2He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light;

3 indeed, he has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long.

3indeed, he has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long.

4 He has made my skin and my flesh grow old and has broken my bones.

4He has made my skin and my flesh grow old and has broken my bones.

5 He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.

5He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.

6 He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead.

6He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead.

7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he has weighed me down with chains.

7He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he has weighed me down with chains.

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

8Even when I call out or cry for help, he shuts out my prayer.

9 He has barred my way with blocks of stone; he has made my paths crooked.

9He has barred my way with blocks of stone; he has made my paths crooked.

10 Like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding,

10Like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding,

11 he dragged me from the path and mangled me and left me without help.

11he dragged me from the path and mangled me and left me without help.

12 He drew his bow and made me the target for his arrows.

12He drew his bow and made me the target for his arrows.

13 He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver.

13He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver.

14 I became the laughingstock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long.

14I became the laughingstock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long.

15 He has filled me with bitter herbs and given me gall to drink.

15He has filled me with bitter herbs and given me gall to drink.

16 He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust.

16He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust.

17 I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is.

17I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is.

18 So I say, “My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD.”

18So I say, “My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD.”

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.

19I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.

20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.

20I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.

21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

21Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

22Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

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

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

24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

24I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

25The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

26it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

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

27It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.

28 Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it on him.

28Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it on him.

29 Let him bury his face in the dust— there may yet be hope.

29Let him bury his face in the dust— there may yet be hope.

30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace.

30Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace.

31 For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.

31For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.

32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.

32Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.

33 For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.

33For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.

34 To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land,

34To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land,

35 to deny people their rights before the Most High,

35to deny people their rights before the Most High,

36 to deprive them of justice— would not the Lord see such things?

36to deprive them of justice— would not the Lord see such things?

37 Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?

37Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?

38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?

38Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?

39 Why should the living complain when punished for their sins?

39Why should the living complain when punished for their sins?

40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.

40Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.

41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven, and say:

41Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven, and say:

42 “We have sinned and rebelled and you have not forgiven.

42“We have sinned and rebelled and you have not forgiven.

43 “You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us; you have slain without pity.

43“You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us; you have slain without pity.

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

44You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through.

45 You have made us scum and refuse among the nations.

45You have made us scum and refuse among the nations.

46 “All our enemies have opened their mouths wide against us.

46“All our enemies have opened their mouths wide against us.

47 We have suffered terror and pitfalls, ruin and destruction.”

47We have suffered terror and pitfalls, ruin and destruction.”

48 Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed.

48Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed.

49 My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief,

49My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief,

50 until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.

50until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.

51 What I see brings grief to my soul because of all the women of my city.

51What I see brings grief to my soul because of all the women of my city.

52 Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird.

52Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird.

53 They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me;

53They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me;

54 the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to perish.

54the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to perish.

55 I called on your name, LORD, from the depths of the pit.

55I called on your name, LORD, from the depths of the pit.

56 You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.”

56You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.”

57 You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.”

57You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.”

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

58You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life.

59 LORD, you have seen the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause!

59LORD, you have seen the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause!

60 You have seen the depth of their vengeance, all their plots against me.

60You have seen the depth of their vengeance, all their plots against me.

61 LORD, you have heard their insults, all their plots against me—

61LORD, you have heard their insults, all their plots against me—

62 what my enemies whisper and mutter against me all day long.

62what my enemies whisper and mutter against me all day long.

63 Look at them! Sitting or standing, they mock me in their songs.

63Look at them! Sitting or standing, they mock me in their songs.

64 Pay them back what they deserve, LORD, for what their hands have done.

64Pay them back what they deserve, LORD, for what their hands have done.

65 Put a veil over their hearts, and may your curse be on them!

65Put a veil over their hearts, and may your curse be on them!

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

66Pursue them in anger and destroy them from under the heavens of the LORD.