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3:1  I am a man who has seen misery, under the rod of his wrath.
3:2  He has driven me along, he brought darkness and not light.
3:3  Surely he has turned his hand against me, all day long.
3:4  He has worn out my flesh and skin, he has broken my bones.
3:5  He has besieged and engulfed me with bitterness and hardship.
3:6  In darkness he has let me dwell like the dead of long ago.
3:7  He has built a wall around me, I cannot go out; he has made my bronze fetters heavy.
3:8  Though I cry out for help, he shuts out my prayers.
3:9  He has blocked my ways with dressed stones; he has made my paths crooked.
3:10  To me he is like a bear lying in wait, a lion in hiding.
3:11  He has forsaken my way and torn me to pieces; he has caused me desolation.
3:12  He has bent his bow and set me as the target for the arrow.
3:13  He shot the arrows of his quiver into my kidneys.
3:14  I have become a laughingstock for all the people, their mocking song all day long.
3:15  He has filled me with bitterness, he has drenched me with wormwood.
3:16  He has broken my teeth on grit, he has trampled me down in ash.
3:17  My life has been removed from peace, I have forgotten goodness.
3:18  And I have said, “My glory is ruined, my expectation from Yahweh.”
3:19  Remember my misery and bitterness, the wormwood and venom!
3:20  Surely my soul remembers and bows down within me.
3:21  This I have reminded myself, therefore I will hope.
3:22  The loyal love of Yahweh does not cease; his compassions do not come to an end.
3:23  They are new in the morning, great is your faithfulness.
3:24  “Yahweh is my portion,” says my soul, “Thus I will hope on him.”
3:25  Yahweh is good to those who wait on him, to the person that seeks him.
3:26  It is good to wait in silence for the salvation of Yahweh.
3:27  It is good for a man who carries the yoke of his childhood.
3:28  Let him sit alone and be silent when he has laid it on him.
3:29  Let him put his mouth in the dust; perhaps there is hope.
3:30  Let him give a cheek to his smiter, let him be filled with disgrace.
3:31  For the Lord will not reject forever.
3:32  For even though he causes grief he has compassion according to the greatness of his royal love.
3:33  He does not afflict willingly, or grieve anyone.
3:34  To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth;
3:35  to deprive one of justice before the face of the Most High;
3:36  to subvert a person in a legal dispute —the Lord has not found delight in these things.
3:37  Who can speak and it will happen if the Lord has not commanded it?
3:38  Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that disaster and good will come?
3:39  Why should any living person complain about his sin?
3:40  Let us test and examine our ways; let us return to Yahweh.
3:41  Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the heavens.
3:42  We ourselves have transgressed and rebelled, you have not forgiven.
3:43  You have covered yourself in anger and pursued us, you have slain and not shown mercy.
3:44  You have covered yourself in a cloud so that prayer cannot pass through.
3:45  You have made us scum and refuse in the midst of the nations.
3:46  All our enemies have opened their mouth against us.
3:47  Fear and a pit have come upon us, desolation and destruction.
3:48  Channels of water run down my eyes because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.
3:49  My eyes have poured down unceasingly without respite,
3:50  until Yahweh looks down and sees from heaven.
3:51  My eyes inflict my soul because of all the daughters of my city.
3:52  My enemies hunt me without cause, like a bird.
3:53  They have silenced me in a pit, they have thrown a stone at me.
3:54  Water has flown over my head, I said, “I am cut off.”
3:55  I have called your name, O Yahweh, from the depths of the pit.
3:56  You have heard my cry, “Do not shut your ear to my cry for help, for my relief!”
3:57  You came near on a day when I called you, you said, “Do not fear!”
3:58  O Lord, you have pleaded for my cause, you have redeemed my life.
3:59  You have seen my injustice, O Yahweh; judge my case.
3:60  You have seen all their vengeance, all there plans against me.
3:61  You have heard their disgrace, O Yahweh, all their plans against me.
3:62  The lips and meditation of my assailants are against me all day long.
3:63  Look at their sitting and their standing, I am their mocking song.
3:64  Return to them what is deserved, O Yahweh, according to the work of their hands.
3:65  Give them a stubborn heart; curse them!
3:66  Pursue them in anger and destroy them from under the heavens of Yahweh.