The Babylonian Exile

For though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.

To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth,

To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High,

To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.

Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

Out of the mouth of the Most High cometh there not evil and good?

Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah.

Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

We have transgressed and have rebelled; thou hast not pardoned.

Thou hast covered with anger and pursued us; thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.

Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.

Thou hast made us an offscouring and refuse in the midst of the peoples.

All our enemies have opened their mouth wide against us.

Fear and the pit are come upon us, devastation and destruction.

Mine eye runneth down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

Mine eye poureth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,

Till Jehovah look down, and behold from heaven.

Mine eye affecteth my soul, because of all the daughters of my city.

They have chased me sore like a bird, they that are mine enemies without cause.

They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and have cast a stone upon me.

Waters flowed over my head; I said, I am cut off.

I called upon thy name, O Jehovah, out of the lowest dungeon.

Thou heardest my voice; hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.