Chapter Text
3:1 I am the man, that hath seene affliction in the rod of his indignation.
3:2 He hath ledde mee, and brought me into darkenes, but not to light.
3:3 Surely he is turned against me: he turneth his hand against me all the day.
3:4 My flesh and my skinne hath he caused to waxe olde, and he hath broken my bones.
3:5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall, and labour.
3:6 He hath set me in darke places, as they that be dead for euer.
3:7 He hath hedged about mee, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chaines heauy.
3:8 Also when I cry and showte, hee shutteth out my prayer.
3:9 He hath stopped vp my wayes with hewen stone, and turned away my paths.
3:10 He was vnto me as a beare lying in waite, and as a Lion in secret places.
3:11 He hath stopped my wayes, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
3:12 He hath bent his bow and made me a marke for the arrow.
3:13 Hee caused the arrowes of his quiuer to enter into my reines.
3:14 I was a derision to all my people, and their song all the day.
3:15 He hath filled me with bitternes, and made me drunken with wormewood.
3:16 He hath also broken my teeth with stones, and hath couered me with ashes.
3:17 Thus my soule was farre off from peace: I forgate prosperitie,
3:18 And I saide, My strength and mine hope is perished from the Lord,
3:19 Remembring mine affliction, and my mourning, the wormewood and the gall.
3:20 My soule hath them in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
3:21 I consider this in mine heart: therefore haue I hope.
3:22 It is the Lordes mercies that wee are not consumed, because his compassions faile not.
3:23 They are renued euery morning: great is thy faithfulnesse.
3:24 The Lord is my portion, sayth my soule: therefore wil I hope in him.
3:25 The Lord is good vnto them, that trust in him, and to the soule that seeketh him.
3:26 It is good both to trust, and to waite for the saluation of the Lord.
3:27 It is good for a man that he beare the yoke in his youth.
3:28 He sitteth alone, and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it vpon him.
3:29 He putteth his mouth in the dust, if there may be hope.
3:30 Hee giueth his cheeke to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproches.
3:31 For the Lord will not forsake for euer.
3:32 But though he sende affliction, yet will he haue compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
3:33 For he doeth not punish willingly, nor afflict the children of men,
3:34 In stamping vnder his feete all the prisoners of the earth,
3:35 In ouerthrowing the right of a man before the face of the most high,
3:36 In subuerting a man in his cause: the Lord seeth it not.
3:37 Who is he then that sayth, and it commeth to passe, and the Lord commandeth it not?
3:38 Out of the mouth of the most high proceedeth not euill and good?
3:39 Wherefore then is the liuing man sorowfull? man suffreth for his sinne.
3:40 Let vs search and try our wayes, and turne againe to the Lord.
3:41 Let vs lift vp our hearts with our handes vnto God in the heauens.
3:42 We haue sinned, and haue rebelled, therefore thou hast not spared.
3:43 Thou hast couered vs with wrath, and persecuted vs: thou hast slaine and not spared.
3:44 Thou hast couered thy selfe with a cloude, that our prayer should not passe through.
3:45 Thou hast made vs as the ofscouring and refuse in the middes of the people.
3:46 All our enemies haue opened their mouth against vs.
3:47 Feare, and a snare is come vpon vs with desolation and destruction.
3:48 Mine eye casteth out riuers of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
3:49 Mine eye droppeth without stay and ceaseth not,
3:50 Till the Lord looke downe, and beholde from heauen.
3:51 Mine eye breaketh mine heart because of all the daughters of my citie.
3:52 Mine enemies chased me sore like a birde, without cause.
3:53 They haue shut vp my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone vpon me.
3:54 Waters flowed ouer mine head, then thought I, I am destroyed.
3:55 I called vpon thy Name, O Lord, out of the lowe dungeon.
3:56 Thou hast heard my voyce: stoppe not thine eare from my sigh and from my cry.
3:57 Thou drewest neere in the day that I called vpon thee: thou saydest, Feare not.
3:58 O Lord, thou hast maintained the cause of my soule, and hast redeemed my life.
3:59 O Lord, thou hast seene my wrong, iudge thou my cause.
3:60 Thou hast seene all their vengeance, and all their deuises against me.
3:61 Thou hast heard their reproch, O Lord, and all their imaginations against me:
3:62 The lippes also of those that rose against me, and their whispering against me continually.
3:63 Behold, their sitting downe and their rising vp, how I am their song.
3:64 Giue them a recompence, O Lord, according to the worke of their handes.
3:65 Giue them sorow of heart, euen thy curse to them.
3:66 Persecute with wrath and destroy them from vnder the heauen, O Lord.