Lamentations 3:37-58   New International Version    

37 Who can speak and have it happen     if the Lord has not decreed it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High     that both calamities and good things come? 39 Why should the living complain     when punished for their sins?

40 Let us examine our ways and test them,     and let us return to the Lord. 41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands     to God in heaven, and say: 42 “We have sinned and rebelled     and you have not forgiven.

43 “You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us;     you have slain without pity. 44 You have covered yourself with a cloud     so that no prayer can get through. 45 You have made us scum and refuse     among the nations.

46 “All our enemies have opened their mouths     wide against us. 47 We have suffered terror and pitfalls,     ruin and destruction.” 48 Streams of tears flow from my eyes     because my people are destroyed.

49 My eyes will flow unceasingly,     without relief, 50 until the Lord looks down     from heaven and sees. 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. 53 They tried to end my life in a pit     and threw stones at me; 54 the waters closed over my head,     and I thought I was about to perish.

55 I called on your name, Lord,     from the depths of the pit. 56 You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears     to my cry for relief.” 57 You came near when I called you,     and you said, “Do not fear.”

58 You, Lord, took up my case;     you redeemed my life.