Hope through God’s Mercy
א Aleph
1I am the man who has seen affliction
under the rod of God’s wrath.
2He has driven me away and forced me to walk
3Yes, he repeatedly turns his hand
against me all day long.
ב Beth
encircling me with bitterness and hardship.3:5 Lm 3:19
6He has made me dwell in darkness
like those who have been dead for ages.3:6 Jb 10:20–22; Ps 88:6; 143:3
ג Gimel
he has weighed me down with chains.
8Even when I cry out and plead for help,
ד Daleth
10He is3:10 Lit is to me a bear waiting in ambush,
a lion in hiding.3:10 Hs 13:7–8
11He forced me off my way and tore me to pieces;
he left me desolate.
and set me as the target for his arrow.
ה He
13He pierced my kidneys
15He filled me with bitterness,
ו Waw
and made me cower3:16 Or and trampled me in the dust.
I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18Then I thought, “My future3:18 Or splendor is lost,
as well as my hope from the Lord.”
ז Zayin
20I continually remember them
and have become depressed.3:20 Alt Hb tradition reads and you cause me to collapse3:20 Ps 42:5–6,11; 43:5; 44:25
21Yet I call this to mind,
ח Cheth
we do not perish,3:22 One Hb mss, Syr, Tg read The Lord’s faithful love, indeed, does not perish
for his mercies never end.
23They are new every morning;
therefore I will put my hope in him.”
ט Teth
to the person who seeks him.
while he is still young.
י Yod
for God has disciplined3:28 Lit has laid a burden on him.
perhaps there is still hope.
30Let him offer his cheek
let him be filled with disgrace.
כ Kaph
31For the Lord
will not reject us forever.
32Even if he causes suffering,
he will show compassion
according to the abundance of his faithful love.3:32 Ps 106:43–45; Ac 14:22; 2Co 4:17; Heb 12:6
33For he does not enjoy bringing affliction3:33 Heb 12:10–11
or suffering on mankind.
ל Lamed
34Crushing all the prisoners of the land3:34 Or earth
beneath one’s feet,
in the presence of the Most High,
the Lord does not approve of these things.
מ Mem
37Who is there who speaks and it happens,
unless the Lord has ordained it?3:37 Ps 33:9–11
38Do not both adversity and good
come from the mouth of the Most High?3:38 Gn 50:20; 1Sm 16:14; Jb 2:10; Ps 78:49; Is 45:7; Jr 1:14; 32:42; Am 3:6
39Why should any living person complain,
any man, because of the punishment for his sins?
נ Nun
40Let’s examine and probe our ways,
to God in heaven:
42“We have sinned and rebelled;
ס Samek
43“You have covered yourself in anger and pursued us;
44You have covered yourself with a cloud
so that no prayer can get through.3:44 Lm 3:8
45You have made us disgusting filth
among the peoples.3:45 1Co 4:13
פ Pe
46“All our enemies
open their mouths against us.3:46 Lm 2:16
devastation and destruction.”
48My eyes flow with streams of tears
because of the destruction of my dear people.
ע Ayin
49My eyes overflow unceasingly,
50until the Lord looks down
51My eyes bring me grief
because of the fate of all the women in my city.
צ Tsade
52For no reason, my enemies3:52 Or Those who were my enemies for no reason
hunted me like a bird.3:52 Ps 35:7
53They smothered my life in3:53 Or They ended my life in; Hb obscure a pit3:53 Gn 37:20–29; Jr 38:6–13
and threw stones on me.
and I thought, “I’m going to die!” 3:54 Ezk 37:11
ק Qoph
55I called on your name, Lord,
from the depths of the pit.
56You heard my plea:
Do not ignore my cry for relief.
57You came near whenever I called you;
you said, “Do not be afraid.”
ר Resh
59
Lord, you saw the wrong done to me;
judge my case.
60You saw all their vengefulness,
all their plots against me.3:60 Jr 11:19
שׂ Sin / שׁ Shin
all their plots against me.
62The slander3:62 Lit lips and murmuring of my opponents
attack me all day long.
63When they sit and when they rise, look,
ת Taw
64You will pay them back what they deserve, Lord,
according to the work of their hands.3:64 Ps 28:4; Rm 2:6; Rv 20:12–13
May your curse be on them!
66You will pursue them in anger and destroy them
under your heavens.3:66 Lit under the Lord’s heavens3:66 Ps 8:3
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