Lamentations 3:9–14

¹⁷¶ O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

¹⁷¶ O LORD, why hast thou made vs to erre from thy wayes? and hardened our heart from thy feare? Returne for thy seruants sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

⁶¶ Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.

⁶¶ Therefore behold, I will hedge vp thy way with thornes, and ^†make a wall, that she shall not find her pathes.

²⁸And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.

²⁸And his breath as an ouerflowing streame, shall reach to the midst of the necke, to sift the nations with the sieue of vanitie: and there shalbe a bridle in the iawes of the people causing them to erre.

¹¹He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.

¹¹Hee hath turned aside my wayes, and pulled me in pieces: hee hath made me desolate.

¹⁸Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.

¹⁹As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

²⁰Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

¹⁸Woe vnto you that desire the ^*day of the LORD: to what ende is it for you? the day of the LORD is darknes and not light.

¹⁹As if a man did flee from a lyon, and a beare met him, or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

²⁰ Shall not the day of the LORD be darkenes, and not light? euen very darke, and no brightnesse in it?

⁷Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:

⁸I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

⁷Therefore I will bee vnto them as a Lion, as a Leopard by the way will I obserue them.

^8†I will meet them as a beare that is bereaued of her whelpes, and will rent the kall of their heart, and there will I deuoure them like a Lion: the wilde beast shall teare them.

¹⁴For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

¹⁴For I will bee vnto Ephraim as a Lion, and as a yong Lion to the house of Iudah: I, euen I wil teare and goe away: I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

¹COME, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

¹¶ Come, and let vs returne vnto the LORD: for hee hath torne, and hee will heale vs: he hath smitten, and he will binde vs vp.

¹³I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

¹³I reckoned till morning, that as a Lyon so will hee breake all my bones: from day euen to night wilt thou make an end of me.

¹⁶For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.

¹⁶For it increaseth: thou huntest me as a fierce Lion: and againe thou shewest thy selfe marueilous vpon me.

⁹He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

^9†He lieth in waite secretly as a lyon in his denne, he lieth in wait to catch the poore: he doth catch the poore when he draweth him into his net.

¹²Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

^12††Like as a lyon that is greedie of his pray, and as it were a yong lyon lurking in secret places.

¹COME, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

¹¶ Come, and let vs returne vnto the LORD: for hee hath torne, and hee will heale vs: he hath smitten, and he will binde vs vp.

¹²I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

¹³His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

¹²I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my necke, and shaken me to pieces, and set me vp for his marke.

¹³His archers compasse me round about, he cleaueth my reines asunder, and doeth not spare; he powreth out my gall vpon the ground.

¹³From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.

¹³From aboue hath he sent fire into my bones, and it preuaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feete, he hath turned me backe: he hath made me desolate, and faint all the day.

⁴⁰And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

⁴¹And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.

⁴²And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

⁴³And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

⁴⁴And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

⁴⁰And the fourth kingdome shall be strong as yron: forasmuch as yron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as yron that breaketh all these, shall it breake in pieces and bruise.

⁴¹And whereas thou sawest the feete and toes, part of potters clay, and part of yron: the kingdome shalbe diuided, but there shalbe in it of the strength of the yron, forasmuch as thou sawest the yron mixt with myrie clay.

^42‖And as the toes of the feete were part of yron, and part of clay; so the kingdome shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

^43†And whereas thou sawest yron mixt with myrie clay, they shall mingle themselues with the seede of men: but they shall not cleaue one to an other, euen as yron is not mixed with clay.

^44†*†And in the daies of these Kings shall the God of heauen set vp a kingdome, which shall neuer be destroyed: and the Kingdome shall not be left to other people, but it shall breake in pieces, and consume all these kingdomes, and it shall stand for euer.

²³Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

²³Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdome vpon earth, which shall be diuerse from all kingdomes, & shall deuoure the whole earth, and shall tread it downe, and breake it in pieces.

²⁶And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.

^26‖And her gates shall lament and mourne; and she being desolate, shall sit vpon the ground.

⁸And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.

^8*And I will make this citie desolate and an hissing: euery one that passeth thereby shalbe astonished and hisse, because of all the plagues thereof.

⁴³And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.

⁴³And fields shalbe bought in this land whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast, it is giuen into the hand of the Caldeans.

⁶Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

^6‖†Wherfore a lyon out of the forrest shall slay them, and a wolfe of the euenings shall spoile them, a leopard shall watch ouer their cities: euery one that goeth out thence shalbe torne in pieces, because their transgressions are many, and their backeslidings are increased.

²⁰Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;

²¹And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;

²²With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;

^20‖Thou art my battel-axe and weapons of warre: for with thee will I breake in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdomes;

²¹And with thee will I breake in pieces the horse and his rider, and with thee will I breake in pieces the charet, and his rider;

²²With thee also will I breake in pieces man and woman, and with thee will I breake in pieces old and yong, and with thee will I breake in pieces the yong man and the maide.

⁸Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

^8†Be thou instructed, O Ierusalem, lest my soule depart from thee: lest I make thee desolate, a lande not inhabited.

¹⁰For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.

¹¹And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.

^10‖‖†For the mountaines will I take vp a weeping and wayling, and for the habitations of the wildernesse a lamentation, because they are burnt vp, so that none can passe through them, neither can men heare the voyce of the cattell, both the foule of the heauens, and the beast are fled, they are gone.

^11*†And I will make Ierusalem heapes, and a denne of dragons, and I wil make the cities of Iudah desolate, without an inhabitant.

⁷But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

⁷But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate al my companie.

³⁸Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

³⁸Behold, your house is left vnto you desolate.

⁸¶ And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

⁸¶ ^‖And the remnant of Iacob shal be among the Gentiles in the middest of many people, as a Lyon among the beasts of the forrest, as a yong Lyon among the flockes of sheepe: who if he goe through, both treadeth downe, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliuer.

²²Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

²²Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I teare you in pieces, and there be none to deliuer.

¹⁹And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

¹⁹And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping, and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great citie, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea, by reason of her costlinesse, for in one houre is she made desolate.

²For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

²For thine arrowes sticke fast in me; and thy hand presseth me sore.

²⁰I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

²⁰I haue sinned, what shall I doe vnto thee, O thou preseruer of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to my selfe?

⁴For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

^4*For the arrowes of the Almightie are within me, the poyson whereof drinketh vp my spirit: the terrors of God doe set themselues in aray against mee.

⁴He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.

⁴He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an aduersary, and slew all that were ^†pleasant to the eye, in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he powred out his furie like fire.

¹²If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

¹³He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

¹²If he turne not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bowe, and made it ready.

¹³He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrowes against the persecutors.

¹²I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

¹³His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

¹²I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my necke, and shaken me to pieces, and set me vp for his marke.

¹³His archers compasse me round about, he cleaueth my reines asunder, and doeth not spare; he powreth out my gall vpon the ground.

⁴For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

^4*For the arrowes of the Almightie are within me, the poyson whereof drinketh vp my spirit: the terrors of God doe set themselues in aray against mee.

²³I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.

²³I will heape mischiefes vpon them, I will spend mine arrowes vpon them.

²⁸The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.

²⁸The arrow cannot make him flee: sling-stones are turned with him into stubble.

⁷¶ O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.

⁷¶ ^‖O LORD, thou hast deceiued me, and I was deceiued, thou art stronger then I, and hast preuailed: I am in derision daily, euery one mocketh me.

⁶³Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.

⁶³Behold, their sitting downe and their rising vp, I am their musicke.

⁶But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

⁷All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

⁶But I am a worme, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

^7*†All they that see me, laugh me to scorne: they shoote out the lippe, they shake the head, saying,

⁹For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

¹⁰We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

¹¹Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

¹²And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

¹³Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

⁹For I thinke that God hath set forth vs the Apostles last, as it were approued to death. For wee are made a ^†spectacle vnto the world, and to Angels, and to men.

¹⁰We are fooles for Christs sake, but ye are wise in Christ. We are weake, but ye are strong: yee are honourable, but we are despised.

¹¹Euen vnto this present houre we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and haue no certaine dwelling place,

^12*And labour, working with our owne hands: being reuiled, wee blesse: being persecuted, we suffer it:

^13*Being defamed, we intreate: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the off-scouring of all things vnto this day.

²⁷For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.

^27‖For was not Israel a derision vnto thee? was hee found among theeues? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for ioy.

¹BUT now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.

²Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?

³For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.

⁴Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.

⁵They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)

⁶To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.

⁷Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.

⁸They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.

⁹And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.

¹¶ But nowe they ^†that are yonger then I, haue mee in derision, whose fathers I would haue disdained to haue set with the dogs of my flocke.

²Yea whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom olde age was perished?

³For want and famine they were ^‖solitarie: flying into the wildernesse ^†in former time desolate and waste:

⁴Who cut vp mallowes by the bushes, and Iuniper rootes for their meate.

⁵They were driuen foorth from among men, (they cried after them, as after a thiefe.)

⁶To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in ^†caues of the earth, and in the rockes.

⁷Among the bushes they brayed: vnder the nettles they were gathered together.

⁸ They were children of fooles, yea children of ^†base men: they were viler then the earth.

^9*And now am I their song, yea I am their by-word.

³⁹¶ And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

⁴⁰And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

⁴¹Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

⁴²He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

⁴³He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

⁴⁴The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

³⁹¶ And they that passed by, reuiled him, wagging their heads,

⁴⁰And saying, Thou that destroyest the Temple, & buildest it in three dayes, saue thy selfe: If thou be the Sonne of God, come downe from the Crosse.

⁴¹Likewise also the chiefe Priests mocking him, with the Scribes and Elders, said,

⁴²He saued others, himselfe he cannot saue: If he be the King of Israel, let him now come downe from the Crosse, and we will beleeue him.

^43*He trusted in God, let him deliuer him now if hee will haue him: for he said, I am the Sonne of God.

⁴⁴The thieues also which were crucified with him, cast y ^e same in his teeth.

²And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

³Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

⁴Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

²And he spake before his brethren, and the army of Samaria, and said, What doe these feeble Iewes? wil they ^†fortifie themselues? will they sacrifice? wil they make an end in a day? wil they reuiue the stones, out of the heapes of the rubbish, which are burnt?

³Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Euen that which they build, if a foxe goe vp, he shall euen breake downe their stone wall.

⁴Heare, O our God, for we are ^†despised: and turne their reproch vpon their owne head, and giue them for a pray, in the land of captiuitie.

³Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

⁴Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.

³Haue mercy vpon vs, O LORD, haue mercy vpon vs: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

⁴Our soule is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease: and with the contempt of the proud.

³For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

^3††For there they that carried vs away captiue, required of vs a song, and they that wasted vs, required of vs mirth: saying, Sing vs one of the songs of Zion.

¹⁵But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

¹⁶With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

^15†But in mine aduersitie they reioyced, and gathered themselues together: yea, the abiects gathered themselues together against me, & I knew it not, they did teare me, and ceased not,

¹⁶With hypocriticall mockers in feasts: they gnashed vpon mee with their teeth.

¹³Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.

^13*Thou makest vs a reproch to our neighbours, a scorne and a derision to them that are round about vs.

¹¹I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.

¹²They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

¹¹I made sackecloth also my garment: & I became a prouerbe to them.

^12†They that sit in the gate, speake against mee; and I was the song of the drunkards.

⁴We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

^4*We are become a reproach to our neighbours: a scorne and derision to them that are round about vs.