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Lamentations 3:37-5:22
GOD’S WORD Translation
Lamentations 3:37-5:22
GOD’S WORD Translation
37 Who was it who spoke and it came into being?
It was the Lord who gave the order.
38 Both good and bad come from the mouth of the Most High God.
39 “Why should any living mortal (any person)
complain about being punished for sin?
40 Let us look closely at our ways and examine them
and then return to the Lord.
41 Let us raise our hearts and hands to God in heaven.
42 “We have been disobedient and rebellious.
You haven’t forgiven us.
43 You covered yourself with anger and pursued us.
You killed without pity.
44 You covered yourself with a cloud
so that no prayer could get through it.
45 You made us the scum and trash of the nations.
46 All our enemies gawk at us.
47 Panic and pitfalls have found us, so have devastation and destruction.
48 “Streams of tears run down from my eyes
over the ruin of my dear people.
49 My eyes will keep flowing without stopping for a moment
50 until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees.
51 What I see with my eyes disturbs me deeply
because of all the young women in my city.
52 “Those who were my enemies for no reason hunted me like a bird.
53 They threw me alive into a pit and threw rocks at me.
54 Water flowed over my head. I thought I was finished.
55 “I call your name from the deepest pit, O Lord.
56 Listen to my cry ⌞for help⌟.
Don’t close your ears when I cry out for relief.
57 Be close at hand when I call to you. You told me not to be afraid.
58 Plead my case for me, O Lord. Reclaim my life.
59 Look at the wrong that has been done to me, O Lord.
Give me a fair verdict.
60 Look at all their malice, all their plots against me.
61 Listen to their insults, all their plots against me.
62 The words and thoughts of those who attack me
are directed against me all day long.
63 Look at them! Whether they are sitting or standing,
they make fun of me in their songs.
64 Pay them back, O Lord, for what they deserve,
for what their own hands have done.
65 Make them stubborn. Let your curse be on them.
66 Pursue them in anger, and wipe them out from under the Lord’s heaven.”
The Prophet Speaks Out: Zion’s Suffering Was Worse Than Sodom’s
4 [a]“Look how the gold has become tarnished!
The fine gold has changed!
The sacred stones are scattered at every street corner.
2 “Zion’s precious children, who are worth their weight in fine gold,
are now treated like clay pots,
like those made by a potter’s hands.
3 Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young,
but the women of my people are as cruel as wild ostriches.
4 The tongues of nursing infants stick to the roofs of their mouths
because of their thirst.
Little children beg for bread,
but no one will break off a piece for them.
5 Those who used to eat delicacies are now destitute in the streets.
Those who used to wear expensive clothes now pick through piles of garbage.
6 The punishment for my people’s wickedness has been more severe
than the punishment for the sins of Sodom.
Sodom was destroyed instantly, without one human hand touching it.
7 Zion’s princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk.
Their bodies were more pink than coral.
Their hair was like sapphires.
8 Their faces are ⌞now⌟ blacker than soot.
No one recognizes them on the streets.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones.
It has become as dry as bark.
9 Those who were killed with swords are better off
than those who are dying from starvation.
Those who were stabbed bled to death.
The others are dying because there is nothing in the fields to eat.
10 The hands of loving mothers cooked their own children.
The children were used for food by my people
when they were being destroyed ⌞by a blockade⌟.
11 The Lord’s fury has accomplished his purpose.
He unleashed his burning anger.
He started a fire in Zion that even burned its foundations.
12 Neither the kings of the earth nor anyone living on earth could believe
that enemies or invaders would ever get through the gates of Jerusalem.
13 ⌞They got through⌟ because of the sins of Jerusalem’s prophets
and the crimes of its priests,
who spilled the blood of righteous people within it.
14 My people staggered blindly through the streets.
They were so contaminated with bloodstains
that no one would touch their clothes.
15 ‘Get away! You’re unclean,’ [b] people yelled at them.
‘Get away! Get away! Don’t touch anyone.’
When they fled and wandered around,
the people of the nations said, ‘They can’t stay here any longer.’
16 The Lord himself has scattered them.
He will no longer look favorably on them.
They no longer respected the priests,
nor did they honor their older leaders.”
The People of Zion Speak Out
17 “We are still straining our eyes, trying in vain to find help.
We waited and waited for a nation that didn’t save us.
18 ⌞The enemy⌟ kept tracking us down,
so we couldn’t even go out into the streets.
Our end was near.
Our time was up.
Our end had come.
19 Those who were hunting us were faster than eagles in the sky.
They chased us in the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.
20 The person the Lord anointed ⌞as king⌟, who is the breath of our life,
was caught in their pits.
We had thought that we would live
in our king’s shadow among the nations.”
The Prophet Speaks Out: Be Warned about Edom’s Impending Doom
21 “Rejoice and be glad, people of Edom, inhabitants of the country of Uz.
The cup ⌞of the Lord’s fury⌟ will be passed to you next.
You’ll get drunk and take off all your clothes.
22 People of Zion, the punishment for your wickedness will end.
The Lord will not let you remain in exile.
People of Edom, he will punish you for your wickedness.
He will expose your sins.”
A Prayer of the Prophet
5 “Remember, O Lord, what has happened to us.
Take a look at our disgrace!
2 “The land we inherited has been turned over to strangers.
Our homes have been turned over to foreigners.
3 We are orphans without a father.
Our mothers are like widows.
4 We have to pay to drink our own water.
We have to pay to chop our own wood.
5 ⌞Our enemies⌟ are breathing down our necks.
We are worn out ⌞and⌟ not permitted to rest.
6 We had to beg Egypt and Assyria for food.[c]
7 Our ancestors sinned.
Now they are gone,
⌞but⌟ we have to take the punishment for their wickedness.
8 Slaves rule us.
There is no one to rescue us from them.
9 To get our food, we have to risk our lives
in the heat of the desert.
10 Our skin is as hot as an oven from the burning heat of starvation.
11 Women in Zion are raped, so are the girls in the cities of Judah.
12 ⌞Our⌟ leaders are hung by their hands.
⌞Our⌟ older leaders are shown no respect.
13 ⌞Our⌟ young men work at the mill,
and ⌞our⌟ boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 ⌞Our⌟ older leaders have stopped meeting at the city gate,
and ⌞our⌟ young men no longer play their music.
15 There is no joy left in our hearts.
Our dancing has turned into mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head.
Because we have sinned, it has been disastrous for us.
17 This is why we feel sick.
This is why our eyes see less and less.
18 Foxes roam around on Mount Zion, which lies in ruins.
19 “But you, O Lord, sit enthroned forever,
and your reign continues throughout every generation.
20 Why have you completely forgotten us?
Why have you abandoned us for such a long time?
21 O Lord, bring us back to you, and we’ll come back.
Give us back the life we had long ago,
22 unless you have completely rejected us
⌞and⌟ are very angry with us.”
Lamentations 3:37-5:22
New International Version
Lamentations 3:37-5:22
New International Version
37 Who can speak and have it happen
if the Lord has not decreed it?(A)
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that both calamities and good things come?(B)
39 Why should the living complain
when punished for their sins?(C)
40 Let us examine our ways and test them,(D)
and let us return to the Lord.(E)
41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands
to God in heaven,(F) and say:
42 “We have sinned and rebelled(G)
and you have not forgiven.(H)
43 “You have covered yourself with anger and pursued(I) us;
you have slain without pity.(J)
44 You have covered yourself with a cloud(K)
so that no prayer(L) can get through.(M)
45 You have made us scum(N) and refuse
among the nations.
46 “All our enemies have opened their mouths
wide(O) against us.(P)
47 We have suffered terror and pitfalls,(Q)
ruin and destruction.(R)”
48 Streams of tears(S) flow from my eyes(T)
because my people are destroyed.(U)
49 My eyes will flow unceasingly,
without relief,(V)
50 until the Lord looks down
from heaven and sees.(W)
51 What 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.(X)
53 They tried to end my life in a pit(Y)
and threw stones at me;
54 the waters closed over my head,(Z)
and I thought I was about to perish.(AA)
55 I called on your name, Lord,
from the depths(AB) of the pit.(AC)
56 You heard my plea:(AD) “Do not close your ears
to my cry for relief.”
57 You came near(AE) when I called you,
and you said, “Do not fear.”(AF)
58 You, Lord, took up my case;(AG)
you redeemed my life.(AH)
59 Lord, you have seen the wrong done to me.(AI)
Uphold my cause!(AJ)
60 You have seen the depth of their vengeance,
all their plots against me.(AK)
61 Lord, you have heard their insults,(AL)
all their plots against me—
62 what my enemies whisper and mutter
against me all day long.(AM)
63 Look at them! Sitting or standing,
they mock me in their songs.(AN)
64 Pay them back what they deserve, Lord,
for what their hands have done.(AO)
65 Put a veil over their hearts,(AP)
and may your curse be on them!
66 Pursue(AQ) them in anger and destroy them
from under the heavens of the Lord.
4 [a]How the gold has lost its luster,
the fine gold become dull!
The sacred gems are scattered
at every street corner.(AR)
2 How the precious children of Zion,(AS)
once worth their weight in gold,
are now considered as pots of clay,
the work of a potter’s hands!
3 Even jackals offer their breasts
to nurse their young,
but my people have become heartless
like ostriches in the desert.(AT)
4 Because of thirst(AU) the infant’s tongue
sticks to the roof of its mouth;(AV)
the children beg for bread,
but no one gives it to them.(AW)
5 Those who once ate delicacies
are destitute in the streets.
Those brought up in royal purple(AX)
now lie on ash heaps.(AY)
6 The punishment of my people
is greater than that of Sodom,(AZ)
which was overthrown in a moment
without a hand turned to help her.
7 Their princes were brighter than snow
and whiter than milk,
their bodies more ruddy than rubies,
their appearance like lapis lazuli.
8 But now they are blacker(BA) than soot;
they are not recognized in the streets.
Their skin has shriveled on their bones;(BB)
it has become as dry as a stick.
9 Those killed by the sword are better off
than those who die of famine;(BC)
racked with hunger, they waste away
for lack of food from the field.(BD)
10 With their own hands compassionate women
have cooked their own children,(BE)
who became their food
when my people were destroyed.
11 The Lord has given full vent to his wrath;(BF)
he has poured out(BG) his fierce anger.(BH)
He kindled a fire(BI) in Zion
that consumed her foundations.(BJ)
12 The kings of the earth did not believe,
nor did any of the peoples of the world,
that enemies and foes could enter
the gates of Jerusalem.(BK)
13 But it happened because of the sins of her prophets
and the iniquities of her priests,(BL)
who shed within her
the blood(BM) of the righteous.
14 Now they grope through the streets
as if they were blind.(BN)
They are so defiled with blood(BO)
that no one dares to touch their garments.
15 “Go away! You are unclean!” people cry to them.
“Away! Away! Don’t touch us!”
When they flee and wander(BP) about,
people among the nations say,
“They can stay here no longer.”(BQ)
16 The Lord himself has scattered them;
he no longer watches over them.(BR)
The priests are shown no honor,
the elders(BS) no favor.(BT)
17 Moreover, our eyes failed,
looking in vain(BU) for help;(BV)
from our towers we watched
for a nation(BW) that could not save us.
18 People stalked us at every step,
so we could not walk in our streets.
Our end was near, our days were numbered,
for our end had come.(BX)
19 Our pursuers were swifter
than eagles(BY) in the sky;
they chased us(BZ) over the mountains
and lay in wait for us in the desert.(CA)
20 The Lord’s anointed,(CB) our very life breath,
was caught in their traps.(CC)
We thought that under his shadow(CD)
we would live among the nations.
21 Rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom,
you who live in the land of Uz.(CE)
But to you also the cup(CF) will be passed;
you will be drunk and stripped naked.(CG)
22 Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion;(CH)
he will not prolong your exile.
But he will punish your sin, Daughter Edom,
and expose your wickedness.(CI)
5 Remember, Lord, what has happened to us;
look, and see our disgrace.(CJ)
2 Our inheritance(CK) has been turned over to strangers,(CL)
our homes(CM) to foreigners.(CN)
3 We have become fatherless,
our mothers are widows.(CO)
4 We must buy the water we drink;(CP)
our wood can be had only at a price.(CQ)
5 Those who pursue us are at our heels;
we are weary(CR) and find no rest.(CS)
6 We submitted to Egypt and Assyria(CT)
to get enough bread.
7 Our ancestors(CU) sinned and are no more,
and we bear their punishment.(CV)
8 Slaves(CW) rule over us,
and there is no one to free us from their hands.(CX)
9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives
because of the sword in the desert.
10 Our skin is hot as an oven,
feverish from hunger.(CY)
11 Women have been violated(CZ) in Zion,
and virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 Princes have been hung up by their hands;
elders(DA) are shown no respect.(DB)
13 Young men toil at the millstones;
boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 The elders are gone from the city gate;
the young men have stopped their music.(DC)
15 Joy is gone from our hearts;
our dancing has turned to mourning.(DD)
16 The crown(DE) has fallen from our head.(DF)
Woe to us, for we have sinned!(DG)
17 Because of this our hearts(DH) are faint,(DI)
because of these things our eyes(DJ) grow dim(DK)
18 for Mount Zion,(DL) which lies desolate,(DM)
with jackals prowling over it.
19 You, Lord, reign forever;(DN)
your throne endures(DO) from generation to generation.
20 Why do you always forget us?(DP)
Why do you forsake(DQ) us so long?
21 Restore(DR) us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;
renew our days as of old
22 unless you have utterly rejected us(DS)
and are angry with us beyond measure.(DT)
Footnotes
- Lamentations 4:1 This chapter is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
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