The Lamentations of Jeremy, for the Most Part According to Tremellius, Chapter III

1. I am the man which have affliction seen, Under the rod of God’s wrath having been; 2. He hath led me to darkness, not to light, 3. And against me all day, His hand doth fight.

4. He hath broke my bones, worn out my flesh and skin, 5. Built up against me; and hath girt me in With hemlock, and with labour; 6. And set me In dark, as they who dead forever be.

7. He hath hedged me lest I ’scape, and added more To my steel fetters heavier than before. 8. When I cry out He outshuts my prayer; 9. And hath Stopp’d with hewn stone my way, and turn’d my path.

10. And like a lion hid in secrecy, Or bear which lies in wait, He was to me. 11. He stops my way, tears me, made desolate; 12. And He makes me the mark He shooteth at.

13. He made the children of His quiver pass Into my reins. 14. I, with my people, was All the day long, a song and mockery. 15. He hath fill’d me with bitterness, and He

Hath made me drunk with wormwood. 16. He hath burst My teeth with stones, and cover’d me with dust. 17. And thus my soul far off from peace was set, And my prosperity I did forget.

18. My strength, my hope—unto myself I said— Which from the Lord should come, is perished? 19. But when my mournings I do think upon, My wormwood, hemlock, and affliction,

20. My soul is humbled in rememb’ring this; 21. My heart considers, therefore, hope there is. 22. ’Tis God’s great mercy we’re not utterly Consumed, for His compassions do not die;

23. For every morning they renewed be, For great, O Lord, is Thy fidelity. 24. The Lord is—saith my soul—my portion, And therefore in Him will I hope alone.

25. The Lord is good to them, who on Him rely, And to the soul that seeks Him earnestly. 26. It is both good to trust, and to attend The Lord’s salvation unto the end.

27. ’Tis good for one His yoke in youth to bear. 28. He sits alone, and doth all speech forbear, Because he hath borne it. 29. And his mouth he lays Deep in the dust, yet then in hope he stays.

30. He gives his cheeks to whosoever will Strike him, and so he is reproached still. 31. For not forever doth the Lord forsake; 32. But when He hath struck with sadness, He doth take

Compassion, as His mercy’s infinite; 33. Nor is it with His heart, that He doth smite, 34. That underfoot the prisoners stamped be, 35. That a man’s right the judge himself doth see

To be wrung from him; 36. That he subverted is In his just cause, the Lord allows not this. 37. Who then will say, that aught doth come to pass, But that which by the Lord commanded was?

38. Both good and evil from His mouth proceeds; 39. Why then grieves any man for his misdeeds? 40. Turn we to God, by trying out our ways; 41. To Him in heav’n our hands with hearts upraise.

42. We have rebell’d, and fallen away from Thee; Thou pardon’st not; 43. Usest no clemency; 125 Pursuest us, kill’st us, cover’st us with wrath; 44. Cover’st Thyself with clouds, that our prayer hath

No power to pass. 45. And Thou hast made us fall As refuse, and off-scouring to them all. 46. All our foes gape at us. 47. Fear and a snare With ruin, and with waste upon us are.

48. With watery rivers doth mine eye o’erflow For ruin of my people’s daughters so; 49. Mine eye doth drop down tears incessantly, 50. Until the Lord look down from heav’n to see.

51. And for my city daughters’ sake, mine eye Doth break mine heart. 52. Causeless mine enemy Like a bird chased me. 53. In a dungeon They’ve shut my life, and cast me on a stone.

54. Waters flow’d o’er my head; then thought I, I am Destroy’d; 55. I called, Lord, upon Thy name Out of the pit; 56. And Thou my voice didst hear; O from my sigh and cry, stop not Thine ear.

57. Then when I call’d upon Thee, Thou drew’st near Unto me, and said’st unto me, “Do not fear.” 58. Thou, Lord, my soul’s cause handled hast, and Thou Rescuest my life. 59. O Lord, do Thou judge now.

Thou heardst my wrong, 60. Their vengeance, all they’ve wrought; 61. How they reproach’d, Thou’st heard, and what they thought; 62. What their lips utter’d, which against me rose, And what was ever whisper’d by my foes.

63. I am their song, whether they rise or sit; 64. Give them rewards, Lord, for their working fit, 65. Sorrow of heart, Thy curse; 66. And with Thy might Follow, and from under heaven destroy them quite.