Lamentations 3:35-53
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 3
35To deprive a man of justice In the presence of the Most High, 36To defraud someone in his lawsuit— Of these things the Lord does not approve. 37Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, Unless the Lord has commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That both adversity and good proceed? 39Of what can any living mortal, or any man, Complain in view of his sins? 40Let’s examine and search out our ways, And let’s return to the Lord. 41We raise our heart and hands Toward God in heaven; 42We have done wrong and rebelled; You have not pardoned. 43You have covered Yourself with anger And pursued us; You have slain and have not spared. 44You have veiled Yourself with a cloud So that no prayer can pass through. 45You have made us mere refuse and rubbish In the midst of the peoples. 46All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. 47Panic and pitfall have come upon us, Devastation and destruction; 48My eyes run down with streams of water Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people. 49My eyes flow unceasingly, Without stopping, 50Until the Lord looks down And sees from heaven. 51My eyes bring pain to my soul Because of all the daughters of my city. 52My enemies without reason Hunted me down like a bird; 53They have silenced me in the pit And have thrown stones on me.King James Version
36To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
37Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
39Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
40Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.
42We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.
43Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
45Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.
46All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
48Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 3
35denying justice to a man in the presence of the Most High, 36or subverting a person in his lawsuit — the Lord does not approve of these things. 37Who is there who speaks and it happens, unless the Lord has ordained it? 38Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High? 39Why should any living person complain, any man, because of the punishment for his sins? 40Let us examine and probe our ways, and turn back to the Lord. 41Let us lift up our hearts and our 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 compassion. 44You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through. 45You have made us disgusting filth among the peoples. 46"All our enemies open their mouths against us. 47We have experienced panic and pitfall, devastation and destruction." 48My eyes flow with streams of tears because of the destruction of my dear people. 49My eyes overflow unceasingly, without end, 50until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees. 51My eyes bring me grief because of the fate of all the women in my city. 52For no reason, my enemies hunted me like a bird. 53They smothered my life in a pit and threw stones on me.New Living Translation
Chapter 3
35if they deprive others of their rights in defiance of the Most High, 36if they twist justice in the courts — doesn’t the Lord see all these things?
37Who can command things to happen without the Lord’s permission?
38Does not the Most High send both calamity and good?
39Then why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins?
40Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord.
41Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven and say,
42'We have sinned and rebelled, and you have not forgiven us.
43'You have engulfed us with your anger, chased us down, and slaughtered us without mercy.
44You have hidden yourself in a cloud so our prayers cannot reach you.
45You have discarded us as refuse and garbage among the nations.
46'All our enemies have spoken out against us.
47We are filled with fear, for we are trapped, devastated, and ruined.'
48Tears stream from my eyes because of the destruction of my people!
English Standard Version
Chapter 3
35 to deny a man justice in the presence of the Most High, 36to subvert a man in his lawsuit, the Lord does not approve. 37 Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? 39 Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins? 40Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! 41 Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven: 42 "We have transgressed and rebelled, and you have not forgiven. 43"You have wrapped yourself with anger and pursued us, killing without pity; 44 you have wrapped yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through. 45 You have made us scum and garbage among the peoples. 46 "All our enemies open their mouths against us; 47 panic and pitfall have come upon us, devastation and destruction; 48 my eyes flow with rivers of tears because of the destruction of the daughter of my people. 49 "My eyes will flow without ceasing, without respite, 50 until the Lord from heaven looks down and sees; 51my 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;New International Version
36to deprive them of justice— would not the Lord see such things?
37Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?
38Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?
39Why should the living complain when punished for their sins?
40Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
41Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven, and say:
42"We have sinned and rebelled and you have not forgiven.
43"You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us; you have slain without pity.
44You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through.
45You have made us scum and refuse among the nations.
46"All our enemies have opened their mouths wide against us.
47We have suffered terror and pitfalls, ruin and destruction."
New King James Version
