Lamentations 3:50–58

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.

50 until 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 “I have been hunted like a bird

by those who were my enemies without cause;

53 they flung me alive into the pit

and cast stones on me;

54 water closed over my head;

I said, ‘I am lost.’

55 “I called on your name, O Lord,

from the depths of the pit;

56 you heard my plea, ‘Do not close

your ear to my cry for help!’

57 You came near when I called on you;

you said, ‘Do not fear!’

58 “You have taken up my cause, O Lord;

you have redeemed my life.

50 until the Lord looks down

from heaven and sees.

51 My heart is breaking

over the fate of all the women of Jerusalem.

52 My enemies, whom I have never harmed,

hunted me down like a bird.

53 They threw me into a pit

and dropped stones on me.

54 The water rose over my head,

and I cried out, “This is the end!”

55 But I called on your name, Lord,

from deep within the pit.

56 You heard me when I cried, “Listen to my pleading!

Hear my cry for help!”

57 Yes, you came when I called;

you told me, “Do not fear.”

58 Lord, you have come to my defense;

you have redeemed my life.

50 Till the Lord from heaven

Looks down and sees.

51 My eyes bring suffering to my soul

Because of all the daughters of my city.

52 My enemies without cause

Hunted me down like a bird.

53 They silenced my life in the pit

And threw stones at me.

54 The waters flowed over my head;

I said, “I am cut off!”

55 I called on Your name, O Lord,

From the lowest pit.

56 You have heard my voice:

“Do not hide Your ear

From my sighing, from my cry for help.”

57 You drew near on the day I called on You,

And said, “Do not fear!”

58 O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul;

You have redeemed my life.

50 until the Lord looks down

and sees from heaven.

51 I am sad when I see

what has happened to all the women of my city.

52 Those who are my enemies for no reason

hunted me like a bird.

53 They tried to kill me in a pit;

they threw stones at me.

54 Water came up over my head,

and I said, “I am going to die.”

55 I called out to you, Lord,

from the bottom of the pit.

56 You heard me calling, “Do not close your ears

and ignore my gasps and shouts.”

57 You came near when I called to you;

you said, “Don’t be afraid.”

58 Lord, you have taken my case

and given me back my life.

50 Till Jehovah look down, and behold from heaven. 51 Mine eye affecteth my soul, because of all the daughters of my city. 52 They have chased me sore like a bird, they that are mine enemies without cause. 53 They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and have cast a stone upon me. 54 Waters flowed over my head; I said, I am cut off.

55 I called upon thy name, O Jehovah, out of the lowest dungeon. 56 Thou heardest my voice; hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. 57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee; thou saidst, Fear not. 58 O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

50 till Jehovah look down and behold from the heavens. 51 Mine eye affecteth my soul, because of all the daughters of my city. 52 They that are mine enemies without cause have chased me sore like a bird. 53 They have cut off my life in a pit, and cast a stone upon me. 54 Waters streamed over my head; I said, I am cut off.

55 I called upon thy name, Jehovah, out of the lowest pit. 56 Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my sighing, at my cry. 57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee; thou saidst, Fear not. 58 Lord, thou hast pleaded the cause of my soul, thou hast redeemed my life.

50 until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees. 

51 What I see with my eyes disturbs me deeply 

because of all the young women in my city. 

52 “Those who were my enemies for no reason hunted me like a bird. 

53 They threw me alive into a pit and threw rocks at me. 

54 Water flowed over my head. I thought I was finished. 

55 “I call your name from the deepest pit, O Lord. 

56 Listen to my cry ⸤for help⸥. 

Don’t close your ears when I cry out for relief. 

57 Be close at hand when I call to you. You told me not to be afraid. 

58 Plead my case for me, O Lord. Reclaim my life. 

50 until the Lord looks down

from heaven and sees.

51 My eyes bring me grief

because of the fate of all the women in my city.

52 For no apparent reason, my enemies

hunted me like a bird.

53 They dropped me alive into a pit

and threw stones at me.

54 Water flooded over my head,

and I thought: I’m going to die!

55 I called on Your name, Yahweh,

from the depths of the Pit.

56 You hear my plea:

Do not ignore my cry for relief.

57 You come near when I call on You;

You say: “Do not be afraid.”

58 You defend my cause, Lord;

You redeem my life.

50 until the Lord from heaven

looks down and sees.

51 My eyes cause me grief

at the fate of all the young women in my city.

52 Those who were my enemies without cause

have hunted me like a bird;

53 they flung me alive into a pit

and hurled stones on me;

54 water closed over my head;

I said, “I am lost.”

55 I called on your name, O Lord,

from the depths of the pit;

56 you heard my plea, “Do not close your ear

to my cry for help, but give me relief!”

57 You came near when I called on you;

you said, “Do not fear!”

58 You have taken up my cause, O Lord;

you have redeemed my life.

50 until Yahweh looks down

and sees from heaven.

51 My eyes inflict my soul

because of all the daughters of my city.

52 My enemies hunt me without cause,

like a bird.

53 They have silenced me in a pit,

they have thrown a stone at me.

54 Water has flown over my head,

I said, “I am cut off.”

55 I have called your name, O Yahweh,

from the depths of the pit.

56 You have heard my cry, “Do not shut your ear

to my cry for help, for my relief!”

57 You came near on a day when I called you,

you said, “Do not fear!”

58 O Lord, you have pleaded for my cause,

you have redeemed my life.

50 I’ll sob until the Lord looks down from heaven.

I’ll cry until he notices my tears.

51 What I see brings pain to my spirit.

All of the people in my city are suffering so much.

52 Those who were my enemies for no reason at all

hunted me down as if I were a bird.

53 They tried to end my life

by throwing me into a deep pit.

They threw stones down at me.

54 The water rose and covered my head.

I thought I was going to die.

55 Lord, I called out to you.

I called out from the bottom of the pit.

56 I prayed, “Please don’t close your ears

to my cry for help.”

And you heard my appeal.

57 You came near when I called out to you.

You said, “Do not be afraid.”

58 Lord, you stood up for me in court.

You saved my life and set me free.

50 Until the Lord looks down

And sees from heaven.

51 My eyes bring pain to my soul

Because of all the daughters of my city.

52 My enemies without cause

Hunted me down like a bird;

53 They have silenced me in the pit

And have placed a stone on me.

54 Waters flowed over my head;

I said, “I am cut off!”

55 I called on Your name, O Lord,

Out of the lowest pit.

56 You have heard my voice,

“Do not hide Your ear from my prayer for relief,

From my cry for help.”

57 You drew near when I called on You;

You said, “Do not fear!”

58 O Lord, You have pleaded my soul’s cause;

You have redeemed my life.