Lamentations 3:34-66

Crushing all the prisoners of the land  beneath one’s feet, denying justice to a man  in the presence of the Most High, or subverting a person in his lawsuit   — the Lord does not approve of these things. Who is there who speaks and it happens, unless the Lord has ordained it?  Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High?  Why should any living person complain, any man, because of the punishment for his sins? Let’s examine and probe our ways, and turn back to the  Lord.  Let’s lift up our hearts and our hands  to God in heaven: “We have sinned and rebelled; you have not forgiven.  “You have covered yourself in anger and pursued us; you have killed without compassion.  You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through.  You have made us disgusting filth among the peoples.  “All our enemies open their mouths against us.  We have experienced panic and pitfall,  devastation and destruction.” My eyes flow with streams of tears because of the destruction of my dear people. My eyes overflow unceasingly, without end,  until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees.  My eyes bring me grief because of the fate of all the women in my city. For no reason, my enemies  hunted me like a bird.  They smothered my life in   a pit  and threw stones on me. Water flooded over my head,  and I thought, “I’m going to die! ”  I called on your name,  Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: Do not ignore my cry for relief. You came near whenever I called you; you said, “Do not be afraid.” You championed my cause, Lord;  you redeemed my life.  Lord, you saw the wrong done to me; judge my case. You saw all their vengefulness, all their plots against me.  Lord, you heard their insults,  all their plots against me. The slander  and murmuring of my opponents attack me all day long. When they sit and when they rise, look, I am mocked by their songs.  You will pay them back what they deserve,  Lord, according to the work of their hands.  You will give them a heart filled with anguish.  , May your curse be on them! You will pursue them in anger and destroy them under your heavens.  ,