📖 Lamentations — Chapter 3 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Lamentations 3:1 I am Rthe man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
Lamentations 3:2 He hath led me, and Rbrought me into darkness, but not into light.
Lamentations 3:3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
Lamentations 3:4 RMy flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
Lamentations 3:5 He hath Rbuilded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
Lamentations 3:6 He hath set me Rin dark places, as they that be dead of old.
Lamentations 3:7 He hath Rhedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
Lamentations 3:8 RAlso when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
Lamentations 3:9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath Rmade my paths crooked.
Lamentations 3:10 He was Runto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
Lamentations 3:11 He hath turned aside my ways, and Rpulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
Lamentations 3:12 He hath Rbent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
Lamentations 3:13 He hath caused the RTarrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
Lamentations 3:14 RI was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
Lamentations 3:15 He hath Rfilled me with Tbitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
Lamentations 3:16 He hath also Rbroken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath Tcovered me with ashes.
Lamentations 3:17 And Rthou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat Tprosperity.
Lamentations 3:18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
Lamentations 3:19 RTRemembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
Lamentations 3:20 My soul Rhath them still in remembrance, and is Thumbled in me.
Lamentations 3:21 This I RTrecall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
Lamentations 3:22 It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, Rbecause his compassions fail not.
Lamentations 3:23 They are Rnew every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:24 The LORD is Rmy portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is Rgood unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
Lamentations 3:26 It is Rgood that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:27 It is good for a man that he Rbear the yoke of his youth.
Lamentations 3:28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
Lamentations 3:29 He Rputteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
Lamentations 3:30 He giveth Rhis cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
Lamentations 3:31 RFor the LORD will not cast off for ever:
Lamentations 3:32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
Lamentations 3:33 For he doth not Rafflict Twillingly nor grieve the children of men.
Lamentations 3:34 To Rcrush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.
Lamentations 3:35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of Tthe most High,
Lamentations 3:36 To subvert a man in his cause, Rthe LORD Tapproveth not.
Lamentations 3:37 Who is he that Rsaith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
Lamentations 3:38 ROut of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
Lamentations 3:39 Wherefore Rdoth a living man Tcomplain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
Lamentations 3:40 Let us Rsearch and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
Lamentations 3:41 Let us Rlift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
Lamentations 3:42 We have Rtransgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.
Lamentations 3:43 Thou hast Rcovered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
Lamentations 3:44 Thou hast Rcovered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.
Lamentations 3:45 Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.
Lamentations 3:46 All our enemies Rhave opened their mouths against us.
Lamentations 3:47 RFear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.
Lamentations 3:48 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Lamentations 3:49 Mine eye trickleth down, Rand ceaseth not, without any intermission.
Lamentations 3:50 RTill the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.
Lamentations 3:51 Mine Reye affecteth Tmine heart Tbecause of all the daughters of my city.
Lamentations 3:52 Mine enemies Rchased me sore, like a bird, without cause.
Lamentations 3:53 They have Rcut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.
Lamentations 3:54 RWaters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.
Lamentations 3:55 RI called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.
Lamentations 3:56 Thou Rhast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.
Lamentations 3:57 Thou Rdrewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
Lamentations 3:58 O LORD, Rthou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.
Lamentations 3:59 O LORD, Rthou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.
Lamentations 3:60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.
Lamentations 3:61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;
Lamentations 3:62 The Rlips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.
Lamentations 3:63 Behold Rtheir sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.
Lamentations 3:64 Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.
Lamentations 3:65 Give them RTsorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
Lamentations 3:66 RPersecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Lamentations 3:1–22 — Affliction remembered and mercy recalled
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The speaker describes darkness, confinement, attack, and lost peace. Remembered bitterness leads to a deliberate recall of hope, culminating in the Lord’s mercies and unfailing compassions.
Key Truth: Allow remembered mercy to speak within real grief.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “… man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his ____ .” (Lamentations 3:1)
Find it in Lamentations 3:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “He hath ____ his bow, and set me as a mark for the …” (Lamentations 3:12)
Find it in Lamentations 3:12 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “It is of the ____ mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail …” (Lamentations 3:22)
Find it in Lamentations 3:22 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Lamentations 3:23–44 — Morning faithfulness, patient hope, and self-examination
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
New compassion each morning supports waiting for the Lord’s salvation. He does not willingly grieve humanity, injustice is confronted, and the people are called to search their ways and turn again even as prayer feels blocked.
Key Truth: Join patient hope with honest repentance.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “They are new every ____ : great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:23)
Find it in Lamentations 3:23 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “To ____ under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.” (Lamentations 3:34)
Find it in Lamentations 3:34 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “Thou hast ____ thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass …” (Lamentations 3:44)
Find it in Lamentations 3:44 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Lamentations 3:45–66 — Continued tears and a cry from the pit
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The speaker’s sorrow continues alongside the people’s disgrace. Calling from the dungeon, he recalls the Lord’s nearness and redemption, then asks the righteous Judge to address his opponents’ wrongdoing.
Key Truth: Entrust distress and injustice to God in prayer.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Thou hast ____ us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of …” (Lamentations 3:45)
Find it in Lamentations 3:45 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Thou hast ____ my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at …” (Lamentations 3:56)
Find it in Lamentations 3:56 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “Persecute and destroy them in ____ from under the heavens of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:66)
Find it in Lamentations 3:66 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Psalms 130:5 — The psalm joins waiting for the Lord with hope in his word.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Which mercy can you recall without pretending your pain has ended?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Which summary best distinguishes Lamentations 3:1–22 (Affliction remembered and mercy recalled) from the chapter’s other sections?
2. Which summary best distinguishes Lamentations 3:23–44 (Morning faithfulness, patient hope, and self-examination) from the chapter’s other sections?
3. Which summary best distinguishes Lamentations 3:45–66 (Continued tears and a cry from the pit) from the chapter’s other sections?
4. What grounds hope amid remembered affliction?
5. How does the call to self-examination relate to return?
Notes
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