the Fourth Week of Advent
Click here to learn more!
Read the Bible
Bishop's Bible
Lamentations 3
1 I am the man that thorowe the rodde of his wrath haue experience of miserie.2 He droue me foorth and led me, yea into darknesse, but not into light.3 Against me is he turned, he turneth his hande dayly against me.4 My flesh and my skinne hath he made olde, and my bones hath he bruised.5 He hath buylded rounde about me, and closed me in with gall and trauaile.6 He hath set me in darknesse, as they that be dead for euer.7 He hath so hedged me in, that I can not get out, and hath layde heauie linkes vpon me.8 Though I crye and call pitiously, yet heareth he not my prayer.9 He hath stopped vp my wayes with foure squared stones, and made my pathes crooked.10 He layeth wayte for me lyke a beare, and as a lion in a hole.11 He hath marred my wayes, and broken me in peeces, he hath layde me waste altogether.12 He hath bent his bowe, and made me as it were a marke to shoote at.13 The arrowes of his quiuer hath he shot, euen into my reynes.14 I am laughed to scorne of all my people, they make songues vpon me all the day long.15 He hath filled me with bitternesse, and geuen me wormewood to drinke.16 He hath smitten my teeth in peeces with stones, and roulled me in the dust.17 He hath put my soule out of rest, I forget all good thinges.18 I thought in my selfe, I am vndone, there is no hope for me in the Lorde.19 O remember yet my miserie and my trouble, the wormewood and the gall.20 Yea thou shalt remember them, for my soule melteth away in me.
21 Whyle I consider these thinges in my heart, I get a hope agayne.22 [Namely] it is of the Lordes mercies that we are not vtterly consumed, for truely his pitifull compassion hath not ceassed.23 Newe mercyes shall the Lord shewe vpon thee early in the day springing, (O Lorde) great is thy faythfulnesse.24 The Lorde is my portion saith my soule therefore wyll I hope in hym.25 O howe good is the Lord vnto them that put their trust in hym, and to the soule that seeketh after hym.26 The good man with stilnesse and pacience, taryeth for the health of the Lorde.27 O howe good is it for a man to take the yoke vpon him from his youth vp?28 He sitteth alone, he holdeth hym styll, because he hath taken [the Lordes yoke] vpon hym.29 He layeth his face vpon the earth, if there happen to be any hope.30 He offreth his cheeke to the smyter, he wyll be content with reproffes:31 For the Lord wil not forsake for euer.32 But though he punishe, yet according to the multitude of his mercies he receaueth to grace agayne.33 For he doth not plague willingly, and afflict the chyldren of men,34 To treade all the prysoners of the earth vnder his feete,35 To moue the iudgement of man before the most highest,36 To condemne a man in his cause: the Lord hath not pleasure in such thinges.
37 What is he then that saith, there should some thing be done without the Lordes commaundement?38 Out of the mouth of the most highest goeth not euyll and good?39 Wherefore then murmureth the liuing man? let hym murmure at his owne sinne.40 Let vs looke well vpon our wayes, and remember our selues, and turne agayne to the Lorde.41 Let vs lift our heartes with our handes vnto the Lorde that is in heauen.
42 We haue ben dissemblers and haue offended, wylt thou therefore not be intreated?43 Thou hast couered vs in thy wrath, and persecuted vs: thou hast slayne vs without any fauour.44 Thou hast hid thy selfe in a cloude, that our prayer should not go through.45 Thou hast made vs outcastes, and to be despised among the people.46 All our enemies gape vpon vs.47 Feare and pit is come vpon vs, yea deceipt and destruction.48 Whole riuers of water gushe out of mine eyes for the hurt of my people:49 Myne eyes runne and cannot ceasse, for there is no rest:50 O Lorde, when wylt thou looke downe from heauen and consider?51 Mine eyes breaketh my heart, because of all the daughters of my citie.52 Mine enemies hunted me out sharply like a byrde, yea & that without a cause.53 They haue put downe my life into a pit, and they haue cast stones vpon me.54 They haue powred water vpon my head: then thought I, nowe am I vndone.
55 I called vpon thy name O Lorde out of the deepe pit.56 Thou hast heard my voyce, and hast not turned away thyne eares from my sighing and crying.57 Thou hast inclyned thy selfe vnto me when I called vpon thee: and hast said, feare not.58 Thou (O Lorde) hast mayntayned the cause of my soule, and hast redeemed my lyfe.59 O Lorde, thou hast seene my wrong, take thou my cause vpon thee.60 Thou hast well considered howe they go about to do me harme, and that all their counsels are against me.61 Thou hast hearde their despitefull wordes O Lorde, yea and all the imaginations against me:62 The lippes of mine enemies, and their deuises that they take against me al the day long.63 Thou seest also their sitting downe and their rising vp, they make their songes of nothing but of me.64 Rewarde them, O Lorde, according to the workes of their handes.65 Geue them an obstinate heart, euen thy curse.66 Persecute them O Lorde with thyne indignation, and roote them out from vnder the heauen.
