322 lines
5.0 KiB
Markdown
322 lines
5.0 KiB
Markdown
Hope in the LORD's Faithfulness
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# Chapter 3
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1. I am the one who has seen the afflictions
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that come from the rod of the LORD's anger.
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2. He has led me into darkness,
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shutting out all light.
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3. He has turned his hand against me
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again and again, all day long.
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4. He has made my skin and flesh grow old.
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He has broken my bones.
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5. He has besieged and surrounded me
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with anguish and distress.
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6. He has buried me in a dark place,
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like those long dead.
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7. He has walled me in, and I cannot escape.
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He has bound me in heavy chains.
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8. And though I cry and shout,
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he has shut out my prayers.
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9. He has blocked my way with a high stone wall;
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he has made my road crooked.
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10. He has hidden like a bear or a lion,
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waiting to attack me.
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11. He has dragged me off the path and torn me in pieces,
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leaving me helpless and devastated.
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12. He has drawn his bow
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and made me the target for his arrows.
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13. He shot his arrows
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deep into my heart.
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14. My own people laugh at me.
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All day long they sing their mocking songs.
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15. He has filled me with bitterness
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and given me a bitter cup of sorrow to drink.
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16. He has made me chew on gravel.
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He has rolled me in the dust.
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17. Peace has been stripped away,
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and I have forgotten what prosperity is.
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18. I cry out, "My splendor is gone!
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Everything I had hoped for from the LORD is lost!"
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19. The thought of my suffering and homelessness
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is bitter beyond words.
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20. I will never forget this awful time,
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as I grieve over my loss.
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21. Yet I still dare to hope
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when I remember this:
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22. The faithful love of the LORD never ends!
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His mercies never cease.
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23. Great is his faithfulness;
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his mercies begin afresh each morning.
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24. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance;
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therefore, I will hope in him!"
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25. The LORD is good to those who depend on him,
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to those who search for him.
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26. So it is good to wait quietly
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for salvation from the LORD.
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27. And it is good for people to submit at an early age
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to the yoke of his discipline:
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28. Let them sit alone in silence
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beneath the LORD's demands.
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29. Let them lie face down in the dust,
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for there may be hope at last.
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30. Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them
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and accept the insults of their enemies.
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31. For no one is abandoned
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by the Lord forever.
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32. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion
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because of the greatness of his unfailing love.
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33. For he does not enjoy hurting people
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or causing them sorrow.
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34. If people crush underfoot
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all the prisoners of the land,
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35. if they deprive others of their rights
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in defiance of the Most High,
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36. if they twist justice in the courts--
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doesn't the Lord see all these things?
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37. Who can command things to happen
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without the Lord's permission?
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38. Does not the Most High
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send both calamity and good?
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39. Then why should we, mere humans, complain
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when we are punished for our sins?
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40. Instead, let us test and examine our ways.
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Let us turn back to the LORD.
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41. Let us lift our hearts and hands
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to God in heaven and say,
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42. "We have sinned and rebelled,
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and you have not forgiven us.
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43. "You have engulfed us with your anger, chased us down,
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and slaughtered us without mercy.
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44. You have hidden yourself in a cloud
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so our prayers cannot reach you.
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45. You have discarded us as refuse and garbage
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among the nations.
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46. "All our enemies
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have spoken out against us.
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47. We are filled with fear,
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for we are trapped, devastated, and ruined."
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48. Tears stream from my eyes
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because of the destruction of my people!
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49. My tears flow endlessly;
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they will not stop
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50. until the LORD looks down
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from heaven and sees.
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51. My heart is breaking
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over the fate of all the women of Jerusalem.
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52. My enemies, whom I have never harmed,
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hunted me down like a bird.
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53. They threw me into a pit
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and dropped stones on me.
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54. The water rose over my head,
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and I cried out, "This is the end!"
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55. But I called on your name, LORD,
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from deep within the pit.
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56. You heard me when I cried, "Listen to my pleading!
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Hear my cry for help!"
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57. Yes, you came when I called;
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you told me, "Do not fear."
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58. Lord, you have come to my defense;
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you have redeemed my life.
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59. You have seen the wrong they have done to me, LORD.
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Be my judge, and prove me right.
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60. You have seen the vengeful plots
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my enemies have laid against me.
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61. LORD, you have heard the vile names they call me.
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You know all about the plans they have made.
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62. My enemies whisper and mutter
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as they plot against me all day long.
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63. Look at them! Whether they sit or stand,
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I am the object of their mocking songs.
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64. Pay them back, LORD,
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for all the evil they have done.
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65. Give them hard and stubborn hearts,
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and then let your curse fall on them!
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66. Chase them down in your anger,
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destroying them beneath the LORD's heavens.
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