Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY
Watchtower
ONLINE LIBRARY
English
  • BIBLE
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • MEETINGS
  • Lamentations 3
  • The Bible in Living English

No video available for this selection.

Sorry, there was an error loading the video.

Lamentations 3:1

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    6/1/2007, p. 10

    9/1/1988, p. 27

    2/15/1987, p. 22

  • Publications Index

    w07 6/1 10; w88 9/1 27; w87 2/15 22

Lamentations 3:2

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w35 263

Lamentations 3:5

Footnotes

  • *

    3:5 (my head with) Codd. me with poison and

Lamentations 3:7

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    kj 137

Lamentations 3:9

Footnotes

  • *

    3:9 (kept me making detours) Lit. contorted my paths

Lamentations 3:12

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w77 663

Lamentations 3:13

Footnotes

  • *

    3:13 Lit. into my kidneys

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w77 663; w65 219

Lamentations 3:14

Footnotes

  • *

    3:14 Var. of all peoples

Lamentations 3:16

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 1, p. 995

    The Watchtower,

    6/1/2007, p. 10

    9/1/1988, p. 27

  • Publications Index

    it-1 995; w07 6/1 10; w88 9/1 27;

    g76 9/8 26; ad 682

Lamentations 3:17

Footnotes

  • *

    3:17 Conj. And my soul let welfare drop

Lamentations 3:18

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    9/1/1988, p. 27

  • Publications Index

    w88 9/1 27

Lamentations 3:19

Footnotes

  • *

    3:19 Codd.* Recollect my miserable and homeless state, wormwood

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w77 444

Lamentations 3:20

Footnotes

  • *

    3:20 Lit. over me

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Close to Jehovah, p. 199

    The Watchtower,

    6/1/2012, p. 14

    6/1/2007, p. 11

    2/15/1987, p. 22

  • Publications Index

    cl 199; w12 6/1 14; w07 6/1 11; w87 2/15 22;

    w78 10/15 22; w77 444; w77 575

Lamentations 3:21

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    6/1/2012, p. 14

    2/15/1987, p. 22

  • Publications Index

    w12 6/1 14; w87 2/15 22;

    w78 10/15 22

Lamentations 3:22

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Jeremiah, pp. 122-123

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1987, pp. 22-23

  • Publications Index

    jr 122-123; w87 2/15 22-23;

    w78 10/15 22; g64 7/8 28; w63 110; w59 478

Lamentations 3:23

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1987, pp. 22-23

  • Publications Index

    w87 2/15 22-23;

    w78 10/15 22

Lamentations 3:24

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    9/15/2011, pp. 8-10

    2/15/1987, pp. 22-23

  • Publications Index

    w11 9/15 8-10; w87 2/15 22-23

Lamentations 3:25

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1987, pp. 23-24

  • Publications Index

    w87 2/15 23-24

Lamentations 3:26

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    3/1/2007, pp. 18-19

    2/15/1987, pp. 23-24

  • Publications Index

    w07 3/1 18-19; w87 2/15 23-24;

    w65 51; w57 644

Lamentations 3:27

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 2, p. 1216

    The Watchtower,

    6/1/2007, p. 11

    5/1/1997, p. 32

    2/15/1987, pp. 23-24

    11/1/1986, pp. 19-20

  • Publications Index

    it-2 1216; w07 6/1 11; w97 5/1 32; w87 2/15 23-24; w86 11/1 19-20;

    g84 9/8 22; ad 1678

Lamentations 3:28

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1987, pp. 23-24

  • Publications Index

    w87 2/15 23-24;

    w78 10/15 22

Lamentations 3:29

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    6/1/2007, p. 11

    2/15/1987, pp. 23-24

  • Publications Index

    w07 6/1 11; w87 2/15 23-24;

    w78 10/15 22

Lamentations 3:30

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1987, pp. 23-24

  • Publications Index

    w87 2/15 23-24

Lamentations 3:31

Footnotes

  • *

    3:31 Codd. repudiate forever

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1987, pp. 24-25

  • Publications Index

    w87 2/15 24-25;

    w35 263

Lamentations 3:32

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1987, pp. 24-25

  • Publications Index

    w87 2/15 24-25;

    w35 263

Lamentations 3:33

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1987, pp. 24-25

  • Publications Index

    w87 2/15 24-25;

    w78 10/15 22; w75 280; ts 124

Lamentations 3:34

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1987, pp. 24-25

  • Publications Index

    w87 2/15 24-25;

    w78 10/15 22-23

Lamentations 3:35

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1987, pp. 24-25

  • Publications Index

    w87 2/15 24-25;

    w78 10/15 22-23

Lamentations 3:36

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1987, pp. 24-25

  • Publications Index

    w87 2/15 24-25;

    w78 10/15 22-23

Lamentations 3:37

Footnotes

  • *

    3:37 Lit. Who says and it is, when

Lamentations 3:39

Footnotes

  • *

    3:39 Susp.

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    6/1/2007, p. 11

    2/15/1987, p. 25

  • Publications Index

    w07 6/1 11; w87 2/15 25;

    w54 348

Lamentations 3:40

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1987, p. 25

  • Publications Index

    w87 2/15 25

Lamentations 3:41

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    2/15/1987, p. 25

  • Publications Index

    w87 2/15 25

Lamentations 3:43

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    9/1/1988, p. 27

  • Publications Index

    w88 9/1 27;

    w75 148; w72 435

Lamentations 3:44

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    9/1/1988, p. 27

  • Publications Index

    w88 9/1 27;

    w75 148; w72 435

Lamentations 3:46

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 2, pp. 193-194

  • Publications Index

    it-2 193-194

Lamentations 3:47

Footnotes

  • *

    3:47 Lit. We have got dread and chasm

Lamentations 3:49

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 2, pp. 193-194

  • Publications Index

    it-2 193-194

Lamentations 3:53

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w35 294

Lamentations 3:54

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w35 294

Lamentations 3:56

Footnotes

  • *

    3:56 (last words) Susp.

Lamentations 3:63

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w47 89

Lamentations 3:65

Footnotes

  • *

    3:65 (infatuated) Unc.

Parallel Translations

Click a verse number to display parallel Bible verses.
  • The Bible in Living English
  • Read in Study Bible (nwtsty)
  • Read in New World Translation (nwt)
  • Read in Reference Bible (Rbi8)
  • Read in American Standard Version (bi22)
  • Read in Rotherham (rh)
  • Read in King James Version (bi10)
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
The Bible in Living English
Lamentations 3:1-66

Lamentations

3 I am the man that saw hardship

by the cudgel of his wrath.

2 Me he drove along to go

darkling, unlighted.

3 Only at me all day

he kept turning back his hand.

4 He wore away my flesh and skin,

shattered my bones,

5* Built siege-works against me and surrounded

my head with hard experiences,

6 Seated me in places of darkness

like men long since dead.

7 He walled me off so that I could not get out,

made my fetters heavy.

8 Withal when I cried and clamored

he shut off my prayer.

9* He walled up my road with masonry,

kept me making detours.

10 An ambushed bear he was to me,

a lion under cover.

11 My roads he filled with briers and tore my flesh,

laid me desolate.

12 He strung his bow and set me up

like a target for the arrow,

13* Sent in the contents of his quiver

into my waist.

14* I became a butt for the laughter of all my people,

for their jingles all day long.

15 He filled me up with bitter greens,

gave me wormwood-juice for refreshment,

16 And rasped my teeth with gravel,

thrust me down in the ashes.

17* And you banned my soul from welfare;

I forgot such a thing as good,

18 And said “my continuance is lost,

and my expectation from Jehovah.”

19* The recollection of my miserable and homeless state is wormwood and opium.

20* Recollect my soul does,

and is downhearted within me.

21 This I will bring back to mind,

will therefore wait,

22 Jehovah’s friendlinesses, that they are not exhausted,

that his sympathy has not come to an end,

23 New every morning;

great is your loyalty.

24 Jehovah is my portion, my soul has said;

therefore I will wait for him.

25 Jehovah is good to those who hope in him,

to a soul that betakes itself to him.

26 Good it is that one wait, and in silence,

for Jehovah’s salvation.

27 Good it is for a man that he carry

a yoke in his youth,

28 Sit alone and be still

because it was laid on him,

29 Put his mouth in the dust,—

perhaps there may be hope,—

30 Give his cheek to the one who strikes him,

take his fill of humiliation.

31* For the Lord will not repudiate

man forever,

32 For if he causes misery he will have sympathy

in accordance with his great friendliness,

33 For he does not arbitrarily grind down

sons of man and bring them to misery.

34 To beating down underfoot

all earth’s prisoners,

35 To warping the law against a man

in the face of the Most High,

36 To circumventing a man in his suit over his rights,

the Lord does not assent.

37* Who is there that says a thing and has it come

when the Lord has not ordered it?

38 Do not evils and good come

out of the mouth of the Most High?

39* What should a living man bemoan,

a man over his sin?

40 Let us search our course and examine it,

and come back to Jehovah.

41 Let us hold up our hearts in our hands

to Deity in heaven.

42 We were criminal and disobedient;

you did not forgive.

43 You overspread us with anger and pursued us,

you killed without mercy.

44 You overspread yourself with a cloud

to keep our prayers from coming through.

45 You are making us an offscouring and a bit of refuse

among the peoples.

46 All our enemies have opened

their mouths wide at us.

47* We face dread and chasm,

breaking and crash.

48 My eyes run streams of water

for the breaking of the daughter of my people.

49 My eyes are running out and never halting

for lack of a soothing balm.

50 Till Jehovah from the sky

looks out and sees,

51 My eyes handle my soul cruelly

because of all the daughters of my city.

52 My unprovoked enemies hunted me

down like a sparrow.

53 They extinguished my life in the pit

and flung stones on me.

54 Water rolled over my head;

I thought “It is all over with me.”

55 I called your name, Jehovah,

out of the abysmal pit;

56* You heard my voice, “Do not let your ears

disregard my freedom, my clamor.”

57 You drew near on the day I called you,

you said “Do not be afraid.”

58 You upheld my right to exist, Lord,

you stood up for my life.

59 You, Jehovah, saw the chicanery against me,

did justice for me.

60 You saw all their revengefulness,

all that they thought of for me.

61 You heard their taunts, Jehovah,

all that they thought of against me,

62 My assailants’ lips

and their whispering against me all day.

63 Look at their sitting down and standing up;

I am the butt of their jingles.

64 You will give them back, Jehovah,

treatment that matches the work of their hands:

65* You will give them infatuated minds,

your curse for them,

66 Will pursue them in anger and root them out

from under Jehovah’s sky.

English Publications (1950-2026)
Log Out
Log In
  • English
  • Share
  • Preferences
  • Copyright © 2025 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Settings
  • JW.ORG
  • Log In
Share