Lamentations 3:19-41

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁹ Remember^[a] my affliction and my homelessness,^(A)
the wormwood and the poison.^(B)
20 I continually remember them
and have become depressed.^[b](C)
21 Yet I call this to mind,
and therefore I have hope:^(D)

²² Because of the Lord’s faithful love^(E)
we do not perish,^[c]
for his mercies never end.
²³ They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness!^(F)
24 I say, “The Lord is my portion,^(G)
therefore I will put my hope in him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those who wait^(H) for him,
to the person who seeks him.
²⁶ It is good to wait quietly^(I)
for salvation from the Lord.^(J)
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke^(K)
while he is still young.

²⁸ Let him sit alone and be silent,^(L)
for God has disciplined^[d] him.
²⁹ Let him put his mouth in the dust^(M)—
perhaps there is still hope.
³⁰ Let him offer his cheek
to the one who would strike him;^(N)
let him be filled with disgrace.

³¹ For the Lord
will not reject us forever.
³² Even if he causes suffering,
he will show compassion
according to the abundance of his faithful love.^(O)
33 For he does not enjoy bringing affliction^(P)
or suffering on mankind.

³⁴ Crushing all the prisoners of the land^[e]
beneath one’s feet,
³⁵ denying justice to a man^(Q)
in the presence of the Most High,
³⁶ or subverting a person in his lawsuit^(R)—
the Lord does not approve of these things.

³⁷ Who is there who speaks and it happens,
unless the Lord has ordained it?^(S)
38 Do not both adversity and good
come from the mouth of the Most High?^(T)
39 Why should any living person complain,
any man, because of the punishment for his sins?

⁴⁰ Let’s examine and probe our ways,
and turn back to the Lord.^(U)
41 Let’s lift up our hearts and our hands^(V)
to God in heaven: