Lamentations:3

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* I [am ] the man [that ] hath seen (note :)The prophet complains of the punishments and afflictions that he endured by the false prophets and hypocrites when he declared the destruction of Jerusalem , as in ( Jer_20:1-2 ).(:note ) affliction by the rod of his wrath . * He hath ledde mee , and brought me into darkenes , but not to light . * Surely he is turned against me : he turneth his hand against me all the day . * My flesh and my skinne hath he caused to waxe olde , and he hath broken my bones . * He hath (note :)He speaks this as one that felt God 's heavy judgment , which he greatly feared , and therefore sets them out with this diversity of words .(:note ) built against me , and surrounded [me ] with gall and labour . * He hath set me in darke places , as they that be dead for euer . * He hath hedged about mee , that I cannot get out : he hath made my chaines heauy . * Also when I cry and shout , he shutteth out my (note :)This is a great temptation for the godly when they do not see the fruit of their prayers and causes them to think that they are not heard , which thing God uses so that they might pray more earnestly and often .(:note ) prayer . * He hath (note :)And keeps me in hold as a prisoner .(:note ) inclosed my ways with hewn stone , he hath made my paths crooked . * * He hath stopped my wayes , and pulled me in pieces : he hath made me desolate . * He hath bent his bow &amp ; made me a marke for the arrow . * Hee caused the arrowes of his quiuer to enter into my reines . * I was a derision to all my people , and their song all the day . * He hath filled me with bitterness , he hath made me drunk with (note :)With great anguish and sorrow he has made me lose my sense .(:note ) wormwood . * He hath also broken my teeth with stones , and hath couered me with ashes . * Thus my soule was farre off from peace : I forgate prosperitie , * And I said , My strength and my (note :)Thus with pain he was driven to and fro between hope and despair , as the godly often are , yet in the end the spirit gets the victory .(:note ) hope hath perished from the LORD : * Remembring mine affliction , &amp ; my mourning , the wormewood and the gall . * My soul hath [them ] still in remembrance , and is humbled (note :)He shows that God thus uses to exercise his , to the intent that by this they may know themselves , and feel his mercies .(:note ) in me . * I consider this in mine heart : therefore haue I hope . * [It is of ] the LORD 'S (note :)Considering the wickedness of man it is a marvel that any remains alive : but only that God for his own mercies sake and for his promise will ever have his Church remain , though they are never so few in number , ( Isa_1:9 ).(:note ) mercies that we are not consumed , because his compassions fail not . * [They are ] new (note :)We feel your benefits daily .(:note ) every morning : great [is ] thy faithfulness . * The LORD [is ] my (note :)The godly put their whole confidence in God , and therefore look for no other inheritance , as ( Psa_16:5 ).(:note ) portion , saith my soul ; therefore will I hope in him . * The Lord is good vnto them , that trust in him , and to the soule that seeketh him . * It is good both to trust , and to waite for the saluation of the Lord . * [It is ] good for a man that he should bear the yoke in his (note :)He shows that we can never begin too soon to be exercised under the cross , that when the afflictions grow greater , our patience also by experience may be stronger .(:note ) youth . * He sitteth alone (note :)He murmurs not against God , but is patient .(:note ) and keepeth silence , because he hath borne [it ] upon him . * He putteth his (note :)He humbles himself as they who fall down with their face to the ground , and so with patience waits for comfort .(:note ) mouth in the dust ; if there may be hope . * Hee giueth his cheeke to him that smiteth him : he is filled full with reproches . * For the Lord will not forsake for euer . * But though he sende affliction , yet will he haue compassion according to the multitude of his mercies . * For he doth not (note :)He takes no pleasure in it , but does it of necessity for our amendment , when he permits the wicked to oppress the poor .(:note ) afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men . * In stamping vnder his feete all the prisoners of the earth , * In ouerthrowing the right of a man before the face of the most high , * To subvert a man in his cause , the Lord (note :)He does not delight in it .(:note ) approveth not . * Who [is ] he [that ] saith , and it cometh to pass , [when ] the Lord (note :)He shows that nothing is done without God 's providence .(:note ) commandeth [it ] not ? * Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not (note :)That is , adversity and prosperity , ( Amo_3:6 ).(:note ) evil and good ? * Why doth a living (note :)When God afflicts him .(:note ) man complain , a man for the punishment of his sins ? * Let vs search and try our wayes , and turne againe to the Lord . * Let us lift up (note :)That is , both hearts and hands : for else to lift up the hands is but hypocrisy .(:note ) our heart with [our ] hands to God in the heavens . * We haue sinned , and haue rebelled , therefore thou hast not spared . * Thou hast couered vs with wrath , and persecuted vs : thou hast slaine and not spared . * Thou hast couered thy selfe with a cloude , that our prayer should not passe through . * Thou hast made vs as the ofscouring and refuse in the middes of the people . * All our enemies haue opened their mouth against vs . * Feare , and a snare is come vpon vs with desolation and destruction . * Mine eye casteth out riuers of water , for the destruction of the daughter of my people . * Mine eye droppeth without stay and ceaseth not , * Till the Lorde looke downe , and beholde from heauen . * My eye (note :)I am overcome with sore weeping for all my people .(:note ) affecteth my heart because of all the daughters of my city . * Mine enemies chased me sore like a birde , without cause . * They have cut off my life (note :)Read ( Jer_37:16 ) how he was in the miry dungeon .(:note ) in the dungeon , and cast a stone upon me . * Waters flowed ouer mine head , then thought I , I am destroyed . * I called vpon thy Name , O Lorde , out of the lowe dungeon . * Thou hast heard my voyce : stoppe not thine eare from my sigh and from my cry . * Thou drewest neere in the day that I called vpon thee : thou saydest , Feare not . * O Lord , thou hast pleaded the causes of my (note :)Meaning , the reason his life was in danger .(:note ) soul ; thou hast redeemed my life . * O Lorde , thou hast seene my wrong , iudge thou my cause . * Thou hast seene all their vengeance , and all their deuises against me . * Thou hast heard their reproch , O Lord , and all their imaginations against me : * The lippes also of those that rose against me , and their whispering against me continually . * Behold , their sitting downe and their rising vp , how I am their song . * Giue them a recompence , O Lord , according to the worke of their handes . * Giue them sorow of heart , euen thy curse to them . * Persecute with wrath &amp ; destroy them from vnder the heauen , O Lord .

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