Lamentations 3:40–57

40  Let us test and examine our ways,

hand return to the Lord!

41  iLet us lift up our hearts and hands

to God in heaven:

42  j“We have transgressed and krebelled,

and you have not forgiven.

43  “You have wrapped yourself with anger and pursued us,

lkilling without pity;

44  myou have wrapped yourself with a cloud

so that no prayer can pass through.

45  nYou have made us scum and garbage

among the peoples.

46  o“All our enemies

open their mouths against us;

47  ppanic and pitfall have come upon us,

devastation and qdestruction;

48  rmy eyes flow with rivers of tears

because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.

49  r“My eyes will flow without ceasing,

without respite,

50  suntil the Lord from heaven

looks down and sees;

51  my eyes cause me grief

at the fate of all the daughters of my city.

52  t“I have been hunted ulike a bird

by those who were my enemies vwithout cause;

53  wthey flung me alive into the pit4

xand cast stones on me;

54  ywater closed over my head;

I said, z‘I am lost.’

55  a“I called on your name, O Lord,

from the depths of the pit;

56  byou heard my plea, ‘Do not close

your ear to my cry for help!’

57  cYou came near when I called on you;

you said, d‘Do not fear!’