Chapter 3

  I [am] the man [who] hath seen affliction By the rod of His wrath.  

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  Me He hath led, and causeth to go [in] darkness, and without light.  

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  Surely against me He turneth back, He turneth His hand all the day.  

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  He hath worn out my flesh and my skin. He hath broken my bones.  

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  He hath built up against me, And setteth round poverty and weariness.  

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  In dark places He hath caused me to dwell, As the dead of old.  

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  He hath hedged me about, and I go not out, He hath made heavy my fetter.  

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  Also when I call and cry out, He hath shut out my prayer.  

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  He hath hedged my ways with hewn work, My paths He hath made crooked.  

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  A bear lying in wait He [is] to me, A lion in secret hiding-places.  

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  My ways He is turning aside, and He pulleth me in pieces, He hath made me a desolation.  

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  He hath trodden His bow, And setteth me up as a mark for an arrow.  

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  He hath caused to enter into my reins The sons of His quiver.  

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  I have been a derision to all my people, Their song all the day.  

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  He hath filled me with bitter things, He hath filled me [with] wormwood.  

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  And He breaketh with gravel my teeth, He hath covered me with ashes.  

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  And Thou castest off from peace my soul, I have forgotten prosperity.  

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  And I say, Perished hath my strength and my hope from Jehovah.  

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  Remember my affliction and my mourning, Wormwood and gall!  

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  Remember well, and bow down doth my soul in me.  

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  This I turn to my heart -- therefore I hope.  

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  The kindnesses of Jehovah! For we have not been consumed, For not ended have His mercies.  

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  New every morning, abundant [is] thy faithfulness.  

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  My portion [is] Jehovah, hath my soul said, Therefore I hope for Him.  

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  Good [is] Jehovah to those waiting for Him, To the soul [that] seeketh Him.  

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  Good! when one doth stay and stand still For the salvation of Jehovah.  

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  Good for a man that he beareth a yoke in his youth.  

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  He sitteth alone, and is silent, For He hath laid [it] upon him.  

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  He putteth in the dust his mouth, if so be there is hope.  

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  He giveth to his smiter the cheek, He is filled with reproach.  

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  For the Lord doth not cast off to the age.  

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  For though He afflicted, yet He hath pitied, According to the abundance of His kindness.  

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  For He hath not afflicted with His heart, Nor doth He grieve the sons of men.  

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  To bruise under one's feet any bound ones of earth,  

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  To turn aside the judgment of a man, Over-against the face of the Most High,  

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  To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord hath not approved.  

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  Who [is] this -- he hath said, and it is, [And] the Lord hath not commanded [it]?  

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  From the mouth of the Most High Go not forth the evils and the good.  

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  What -- sigh habitually doth a living man, A man for his sin?  

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  We search our ways, and investigate, And turn back unto Jehovah.  

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  We lift up our heart on the hands unto God in the heavens.  

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  We -- we have transgressed and rebelled, Thou -- Thou hast not forgiven.  

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  Thou hast covered Thyself with anger, And dost pursue us; Thou hast slain -- Thou hast not pitied.  

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  Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, So that prayer doth not pass through.  

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  Offscouring and refuse Thou dost make us In the midst of the peoples.  

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  Opened against us their mouth have all our enemies.  

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  Fear and a snare hath been for us, Desolation and destruction.  

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  Rivulets of water go down my eye, For the destruction of the daughter of my people.  

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  Mine eye is poured out, And doth not cease without intermission,  

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  Till Jehovah looketh and seeth from the heavens,  

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  My eye affecteth my soul, Because of all the daughters of my city.  

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  Hunted me sore as a bird have my enemies without cause.  

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  They have cut off in a pit my life, And they cast a stone against me.  

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  Flowed have waters over my head, I have said, I have been cut off.  

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  I called Thy name, O Jehovah, from the lower pit.  

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  My voice Thou hast heard, Hide not Thine ear at my breathing -- at my cry.  

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  Thou hast drawn near in the day I call Thee, Thou hast said, Fear not.  

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  Thou hast pleaded, O Lord, the pleadings of my soul, Thou hast redeemed my life.  

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  Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, my overthrow, Judge Thou my cause.  

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  Thou hast seen all their vengeance, All their thoughts of me.  

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  Thou hast heard their reproach, O Jehovah, All their thoughts against me,  

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  The lips of my withstanders, Even their meditation against me all the day.  

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  Their sitting down, and their rising up, Behold attentively, I [am] their song.  

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  Thou returnest to them the deed, O Jehovah, According to the work of their hands.  

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  Thou givest to them a covered heart, Thy curse to them.  

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  Thou pursuest in anger, and destroyest them, From under the heavens of Jehovah!  

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