Scriptures

Lamentations chapter 3

¶ Aleph. I am the man, that (thorow the rod of his wrath) have experience of misery. He drove me forth, and led me: yea into darkness, but not in to light. Against me only he turneth his hand, and layeth it ever upon me. Beth. My flesh and my skin hath he made old, my bones hath he bruised. He hath builded round about me, and closed me in with gall and travail. He hath set me in darkness, as they that be dead for ever. Gimel. He hath so hedged me in, that I can not get out, and hath laid heavy links upon me. Though I cry and call piteously, yet heareth he not my prayer. He hath stopped up my ways with four square stones, and made my paths crooked. Daleth. He layeth wait for me like a Bear, and as a lion in a hole. He hath marred my ways, and broken me in pieces: he hath laid me waste altogether. He hath bent his bow, and made me as it were a mark to shoot at. He. The arrows of his quiver hath he shot, even into my reins. I am laughed to scorn of all my people, they make songs upon me all the day long. He hath filled me with bitterness, and given me wormwood to drink. Vau. He hath smitten my teeth in pieces, and rolled me in the dust. He hath put my soul out of rest, I forget all good things. I thought in myself: I am undone, there is no hope for me in the LORD. Zain. O remember yet my misery and my trouble, the wormwood and the gall. Yea thou shalt remember them, for my soul melteth away in me.
¶ While I consider these things in my heart, I get a hope again. CHeth. Namely, that the mercies of the LORD are not clean gone, and that his loving kindness ceaseth not. His faithfulness is great and reneweth it self as the morning. The LORD is my portion, sayeth my soul, therefore will I hope in him. Teth. O how good is the LORD unto them that put their trust in him, and to the soul that seeketh after him? O how good is it with stillness to wait and tarry, for the health of the LORD. O how good is it for a man, to take the yoke upon him from his youth up. Iod. He sitteth alone, he holdeth him still, and dwelleth quietly by himself. He layeth his face upon the earth, if (percase) there happen to be any hope. He offereth his cheek to the smiter, he will be content with reproves. Caph. For the Lord will not forsake for ever. But though he do cast off, yet according to the multitude of his mercies, he receiveth to grace again. For he doth not plague, and cast out the children of men from his heart. Lamed. To tread all the prisoners of the earth under his feet. To move the judgement of man before the most highest. To condemn a man in his cause; The Lord hath no pleasure in such things.
¶ Mem. What is he then that sayeth: there should something be done without the Lord's commandment: Out of the mouth of the most Highest goeth not evil and good? Wherefore then murmureth the living man: let him murmur at his own sin. Nun. Let us look well upon our own ways, and remember ourselves, and turn again to the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto the Lorde that is in heaven.
¶ We have been dissemblers, and have offended, will thou therefore not be entreated? Samech. Thou hast covered us in thy wrath, and persecuted us, thou hast slain us, without any favour. Thou hast hid thyself in a cloud, that our prayer should not go thorow. Thou hast made us outcasts, and to be despised among the Heathen. Ain. All our enemies gape upon us. Fear and snare is come upon us, yea despite and destruction. Whole rivers of water gush out of mine eyes, for the great hurt of my people. Phe. Mine eyes run, and can not cease, for there is no rest. O LORD, when will thou look down from heaven, and consider. Mine eye breaketh my heart, because of all the daughters of my city. Zade. Mine enemies hunted me out sharply, like a bird, yea and that without a cause. They have put down my life into a pit, and laid a stone upon me. They poured water upon my head, then thought I: now am I undone.
¶ Koph. I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the deep pit. Thou hast heard my voice, and hast not turned away thine ears from my sighing and crying. Thou hast inclined thy self unto me, when I called upon thee, and haste said: fear not. Res. Thou (O Lord), hast maintained the cause of my soul, and hast redeemed my life. O LORD, thou hast seen my blasphemers, take thou my cause upon thee. Thou hast well considered how they go about to do me harm, and that all their counsels are against me. Sin. Thou hast heard their despiteful words (O LORD), yea and all their imaginations against me. The lips of mine enemies, and their devices that they take against me, all the day long. Thou seest also their sitting down and their rising up, they make their songs of nothing but me. Thau. Reward them, (O LORD), according to the work of their hands. Give them the thing, that their own heart is afraid of: even thy curse. Persecute them (O LORD) with thine indignation, and root them out from under the heaven.

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