Jeremiah's Afflictions
א
1I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
2He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
3Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
ב
4My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
5He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
6He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
ג
7He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
8Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
9He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
ד
10He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
11He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
12He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
ה
13He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
14I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
15He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
ו
16He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
17And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
18And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
Jeremiah's Hope
ז
19Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
ח
22It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
ט
25The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
י
28He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
29He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
30He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
כ
31For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
32But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
33For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
ל
34To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,
35To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
36To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
God's Justice
מ
37Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
38Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
39Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
נ
40Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
41Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
42We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.
ס
43Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
44Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.
45Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.
פ
46All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
47Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.
48Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
ע
49Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,
50Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.
51Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.
צ
52Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.
53They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.
54Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.
A Prayer for Deliverance
ק
55I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.
56Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.
57Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
ר
58O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.
59O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.
60Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.
ש
61Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;
62The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.
63Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.
ת
64Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.
65Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
66Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Prophet’s Afflictions
א
1 I am the man that has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
2 He has led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light.
3 Surely against me he turns his hand again and again all the day.
ב
4 My flesh and my skin has he made old; he has broken my bones.
5 He has built against me, and surrounded me with gall and travail.
6 He has made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.
ג
7 He has walled me about, that I can’t go forth; he has made my chain heavy.
8 Yes, when I cry, and call for help, he shuts out my prayer.
9 He has walled up my ways with cut stone; he has made my paths crooked.
ד
10 He is to me as a bear lying in wait, as a lion in secret places.
11 He has turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he has made me desolate.
12 He has bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
ה
13 He has caused the shafts of his quiver to enter into my kidneys.
14 I am become a derision to all my people, and their song all the day.
15 He has filled me with bitterness, he has sated me with wormwood.
ו
16 He has also broken my teeth with gravel stones; he has covered me with ashes.
17 You have removed my soul far off from peace; I forgot prosperity.
18 I said, My strength is perished, and my expectation from Yahweh.
The Prophet’s Hope
ז
19 Remember my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul still remembers them, and is bowed down within me.
21 This I recall to my mind; therefore have I hope.
ח
22 It is because of Yahweh’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn’t fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 Yahweh is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
ט
25 Yahweh is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.
26 It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Yahweh.
27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
י
28 Let him sit alone and keep silence, because he has laid it on him.
29 Let him put his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope.
30 Let him give his cheek to him who strikes him; let him be filled full with reproach.
כ
31 For the Lord will not cast off forever.
32 For though he cause grief, yet he will have compassion according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
33 For he does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.
ל
34 To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth,
35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High,
36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord doesn’t approve.
God’s Justice
מ
37 Who is he who says, and it comes to pass, when the Lord doesn’t command it?
38 Doesn’t evil and good come out of the mouth of the Most High?
39 Why does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
נ
40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Yahweh.
41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands to God in the heavens.
42 We have transgressed and have rebelled; you have not pardoned.
ס
43 You have covered with anger and pursued us; you have killed, you have not pitied.
44 You have covered yourself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.
45 You have made us an off-scouring and refuse in the midst of the peoples.
פ
46 All our enemies have opened their mouth wide against us.
47 Fear and the pit have come on us, devastation and destruction.
48 My eye runs down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
ע
49 My eye pours down, and doesn’t cease, without any intermission,
50 Until Yahweh look down, and see from heaven.
51 My eye affects my soul, because of all the daughters of my city.
צ
52 They have chased me relentlessly like a bird, those who are my enemies without cause.
53 They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and have cast a stone on me.
54 Waters flowed over my head; I said, I am cut off.
ק
55 I called on your name, Yahweh, out of the lowest dungeon.
56 You heard my voice; don’t hide your ear at my breathing, at my cry.
57 You drew near in the day that I called on you; you said, Don’t be afraid.
ר
58 Lord, you have pleaded the causes of my soul; you have redeemed my life.
59 Yahweh, you have seen my wrong. Judge my cause.
60 You have seen all their vengeance and all their devices against me.
ש
61 You have heard their reproach, Yahweh, and all their devices against me,
62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.
63 You see their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their song.
ת
64 You will render to them a recompense, Yahweh, according to the work of their hands.
65 You will give them hardness of heart, your curse to them.
66 You will pursue them in anger, and destroy them from under the heavens of Yahweh.
The Prophet’s Afflictions
1 I a am the man who has seen affliction
under the rod of God’s wrath.
2 He has driven me away and made me walk
in darkness instead of light.
3 Indeed, He keeps turning His hand
against me all day long.
4 He has worn away my flesh and skin;
He has shattered my bones.
5 He has besieged me and surrounded me
with bitterness and hardship.
6 He has made me dwell in darkness
like those dead for ages.
7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape;
He has weighed me down with chains.
8 Even when I cry out and plead for help,
He shuts out my prayer.
9 He has barred my ways with cut stones;
He has made my paths crooked.
10 He is a bear lying in wait,
a lion hiding in ambush.
11 He forced me off my path and tore me to pieces;
He left me without help.
12 He bent His bow
and set me as the target for His arrow.
13 He pierced my kidneys
with His arrows.
14 I am a laughingstock to all my people;
they mock me in song all day long.
15 He has filled me with bitterness;
He has intoxicated me with wormwood.
16 He has ground my teeth with gravel
and trampled me in the dust.
17 My soul has been deprived of peace;
I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18 So I say, “My strength has perished,
along with my hope from the LORD.”
The Prophet’s Hope
19 Remember my affliction and wandering,
the wormwood and the gall.
20 Surely my soul remembers
and is humbled within me.
21 Yet I call this to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the loving devotion b of the LORD we are not consumed,
for His mercies never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness!
24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in Him.”
25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
to the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is still young.
28 Let him sit alone in silence,
for God has disciplined him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
perhaps there is still hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him;
let him be filled with reproach.
31 For the Lord will not
cast us off forever.
32 Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion
according to His abundant loving devotion.
33 For He does not willingly afflict
or grieve the sons of men.
34 To crush underfoot
all the prisoners of the land,
35 to deny a man justice
before the Most High,
36 to subvert a man in his lawsuit—
of these the Lord does not approve.
God’s Justice
37 Who has spoken and it came to pass,
unless the Lord has ordained it?
38 Do not both adversity and good
come from the mouth of the Most High?
39 Why should any mortal man complain,
in view of his sins?
40 Let us examine and test our ways,
and turn back to the LORD.
41 Let us lift up our hearts and hands
to God in heaven:
42 “We have sinned and rebelled;
You have not forgiven.”
43 You have covered Yourself in anger and pursued us;
You have killed without pity.
44 You have covered Yourself with a cloud
that no prayer can pass through.
45 You have made us scum and refuse
among the nations.
46 All our enemies
open their mouths against us.
47 Panic and pitfall have come upon us—
devastation and destruction.
48 Streams of tears flow from my eyes
over the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49 My eyes overflow unceasingly,
without relief,
50 until the LORD
looks down from heaven and sees.
51 My eyes bring grief to my soul
because of all the daughters of my city.
52 Without cause my enemies
hunted me like a bird.
53 They dropped me alive into a pit
and cast stones upon me.
54 The waters flowed over my head,
and I thought I was going to die.
55 I called on Your name, O LORD,
out of the depths of the Pit.
56 You heard my plea:
“Do not ignore my cry for relief.”
57 You drew near when I called on You;
You said, “Do not be afraid.”
58 You defend my cause, O Lord;
You redeem my life.
59 You have seen, O LORD, the wrong done to me;
vindicate my cause!
60 You have seen all their malice,
all their plots against me.
61 O LORD, You have heard their insults,
all their plots against me—
62 the slander and murmuring of my assailants
against me all day long.
63 When they sit and when they rise,
see how they mock me in song.
64 You will pay them back what they deserve, O LORD,
according to the work of their hands.
65 Put a veil of anguish over their hearts;
may Your curse be upon them!
66 You will pursue them in anger and exterminate them
from under Your heavens, O LORD.
Footnotes:
1 a This chapter is an acrostic poem, each 3–verse stanza beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
22 b Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion ; the range of meaning includes love , goodness , kindness , faithfulness , and mercy , as well as loyalty to a covenant .
Jeremiah's Afflictions
א
1I am the man who hath seen affliction By the rod of His wrath.
2Me He hath led, and causeth to go in darkness, and without light.
3Surely against me He turneth back, He turneth His hand all the day.
ב
4He hath worn out my flesh and my skin. He hath broken my bones.
5He hath built up against me, And setteth round poverty and weariness.
6In dark places He hath caused me to dwell, As the dead of old.
ג
7He hath hedged me about, and I go not out, He hath made heavy my fetter.
8Also when I call and cry out, He hath shut out my prayer.
9He hath hedged my ways with hewn work, My paths He hath made crooked.
ד
10A bear lying in wait He is to me, A lion in secret hiding-places.
11My ways He is turning aside, and He pulleth me in pieces, He hath made me a desolation.
12He hath trodden His bow, And setteth me up as a mark for an arrow.
ה
13He hath caused to enter into my reins The sons of His quiver.
14I have been a derision to all my people, Their song all the day.
15He hath filled me with bitter things, He hath filled me with wormwood.
ו
16And He breaketh with gravel my teeth, He hath covered me with ashes.
17And Thou castest off from peace my soul, I have forgotten prosperity.
18And I say, Perished hath my strength and my hope from Jehovah.
Jeremiah's Hope
ז
19Remember my affliction and my mourning, Wormwood and gall!
20Remember well, and bow down doth my soul in me.
21This I turn to my heart -- therefore I hope.
ח
22The kindnesses of Jehovah! For we have not been consumed, For not ended have His mercies.
23New every morning, abundant is thy faithfulness.
24My portion is Jehovah, hath my soul said, Therefore I hope for Him.
ט
25Good is Jehovah to those waiting for Him, To the soul that seeketh Him.
26Good! when one doth stay and stand still For the salvation of Jehovah.
27Good for a man that he beareth a yoke in his youth.
י
28He sitteth alone, and is silent, For He hath laid it upon him.
29He putteth in the dust his mouth, if so be there is hope.
30He giveth to his smiter the cheek, He is filled with reproach.
כ
31For the Lord doth not cast off to the age.
32For though He afflicted, yet He hath pitied, According to the abundance of His kindness.
33For He hath not afflicted with His heart, Nor doth He grieve the sons of men.
ל
34To bruise under one's feet any bound ones of earth,
35To turn aside the judgment of a man, Over-against the face of the Most High,
36To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord hath not approved.
God's Justice
מ
37Who is this -- he hath said, and it is, And the Lord hath not commanded it?
38From the mouth of the Most High Go not forth the evils and the good.
39What -- sigh habitually doth a living man, A man for his sin?
נ
40We search our ways, and investigate, And turn back unto Jehovah.
41We lift up our heart on the hands unto God in the heavens.
42We -- we have transgressed and rebelled, Thou -- Thou hast not forgiven.
ס
43Thou hast covered Thyself with anger, And dost pursue us; Thou hast slain -- Thou hast not pitied.
44Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, So that prayer doth not pass through.
45Offscouring and refuse Thou dost make us In the midst of the peoples.
פ
46Opened against us their mouth have all our enemies.
47Fear and a snare hath been for us, Desolation and destruction.
48Rivulets of water go down my eye, For the destruction of the daughter of my people.
ע
49Mine eye is poured out, And doth not cease without intermission,
50Till Jehovah looketh and seeth from the heavens,
51My eye affecteth my soul, Because of all the daughters of my city.
צ
52Hunted me sore as a bird have my enemies without cause.
53They have cut off in a pit my life, And they cast a stone against me.
54Flowed have waters over my head, I have said, I have been cut off.
A Prayer for Deliverance
ק
55I called Thy name, O Jehovah, from the lower pit.
56My voice Thou hast heard, Hide not Thine ear at my breathing -- at my cry.
57Thou hast drawn near in the day I call Thee, Thou hast said, Fear not.
ר
58Thou hast pleaded, O Lord, the pleadings of my soul, Thou hast redeemed my life.
59Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, my overthrow, Judge Thou my cause.
60Thou hast seen all their vengeance, All their thoughts of me.
ש
61Thou hast heard their reproach, O Jehovah, All their thoughts against me,
62The lips of my withstanders, Even their meditation against me all the day.
63Their sitting down, and their rising up, Behold attentively, I am their song.
ת
64Thou returnest to them the deed, O Jehovah, According to the work of their hands.
65Thou givest to them a covered heart, Thy curse to them.
66Thou pursuest in anger, and destroyest them, From under the heavens of Jehovah!
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