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Micah 7:9
We’ve sinned against the Lord. So he is angry with us. His anger will continue until he takes up our case. Then he’ll do what is right for us. He’ll bring us out into the light. Then we’ll see him save us.
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Jeremiah 14:17
“ Jeremiah, give them this message. Tell them,“‘ Let tears flow from my eyes. Let them pour out night and day. Never let them stop. The people of my own nation have suffered a terrible wound. They have been crushed.
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Lamentations 3:39-40
A person who is still alive shouldn’t blame God when God punishes them for their sins.Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living. Let’s return to the Lord.
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Jeremiah 4:31
I hear a cry like the cry of a woman having a baby. I hear a groan like someone having her first child. It’s the cry of the people of Zion struggling to breathe. They reach out their hands and say,“ Help us! We’re fainting! Murderers are about to kill us!”
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Psalms 39:9
I keep silent. I don’t open my mouth. You are the one who has caused all this to happen.
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Lamentations 1:12-22
Jerusalem also says,“ All you who are passing by, don’t you care about what has happened to me? Just look at my condition. Has anyone suffered the way I have? The Lord has brought all this on me. He has made me suffer. His anger has burned against me.“ He sent down fire from heaven. It went deep down into my bones. He spread a net to catch me by the feet. He stopped me right where I was. He made me empty. I am sick all the time.“ My sins have been made into a heavy yoke. They were woven together by his hands. They have been placed on my neck. The Lord has taken away my strength. He has handed me over to my enemies. I can’t win the battle over them.“ The Lord has refused to accept any of my soldiers. He has sent for an army to crush my young men. I am like grapes in the Lord’s winepress. He has stomped on me, even though I am his very own.“ That’s why I am weeping. Tears are flowing from my eyes. No one is near to comfort me. No one can heal my spirit. My children don’t have anything. My enemies are much too strong for me.”Zion reaches out her hands. But no one is there to comfort her people. The Lord has ordered that the neighbors of Jacob’s people would become their enemies. Jerusalem has become impure among them.Jerusalem says,“ The Lord always does what is right. But I refused to obey his commands. Listen, all you nations. Pay attention to how much I’m suffering. My young men and women have been taken away as prisoners.“ I called out to those who were going to help me. But they turned against me. My priests and elders died in the city. They were searching for food just to stay alive.“ Lord, see how upset I am! I am suffering deep down inside. My heart is troubled. Again and again I have refused to obey you. Outside the city, people are being killed by swords. Inside, there is nothing but death.“ People have heard me groan. But no one is here to comfort me. My enemies have heard about all my troubles. What you have done makes them happy. So please judge them, just as you said you would. Let them become like me.“ Please pay attention to all their sinful ways. Punish them as you have punished me. You judged me because I had committed so many sins. I groan all the time. And my heart is weak.”
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Lamentations 2:11-22
I’ve cried so much I can’t see very well. I’m suffering deep down inside. My heart is broken because my people are destroyed. Children and babies are fainting in the streets of the city.They say to their mothers,“ Where can we find something to eat and drink?” They faint like wounded soldiers in the streets of the city. Their lives are slipping away in their mothers’ arms.City of Jerusalem, what can I say about you? What can I compare you to? People of Zion, what are you like? I want to comfort you. Your wound is as deep as the ocean. Who can heal you?The visions of your prophets were lies. They weren’t worth anything. They didn’t show you the sins you had committed. So that’s why you were captured. The messages they gave you were lies. They led you astray.All those who pass by clap their hands and make fun of you. They laugh at you and shake their heads at the city of Jerusalem. They say,“ Could that be the city that was called perfect and beautiful? Is that the city that brought joy to everyone on earth?”All your enemies open their mouths wide against you. They laugh at you and grind their teeth. They say,“ We have swallowed up Jerusalem’s people. This is the day we’ve waited for. And we’ve lived to see it.”The Lord has done what he planned to do. He has made what he said come true. He gave the command long ago. He has destroyed you without pity. He has let your enemies laugh at you. He has made them stronger than you are.People in the city of Zion, cry out from your heart to the Lord. Let your tears flow like a river day and night. Don’t stop at all. Don’t give your eyes any rest.Get up. Cry out as the night begins. Tell the Lord all your troubles. Lift up your hands to him. Pray that the lives of your children will be spared. At every street corner they faint because they are so hungry.Jerusalem says,“ Lord, look at me. Think about my condition. Have you ever treated anyone else like this? Should women have to eat their babies? Should they eat the children they’ve taken care of? Should priests and prophets be killed in your own temple?“ Young people and old people alike lie dead in the dust of my streets. My young men and women have been killed by swords. You killed them when you were angry. You put them to death without pity.“ You sent for terrors to come against me on every side. It was as if you were inviting people to enjoy a feast day. Because you were angry, no one escaped. No one was left alive. I took good care of my children and brought them up. But my enemies have destroyed them.”
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Jeremiah 9:1
I wish my head were a spring of water! I wish my eyes were a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for my people who have been killed.
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Jeremiah 17:13
Lord, you are Israel’s only hope. Everyone who deserts you will be put to shame. The names of those who turn away from you will be listed among the dead. Lord, they have deserted you. You are the spring of water that gives life.
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Jeremiah 8:21
My people are crushed, so I am crushed. I mourn, and I am filled with horror.
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Lamentations 3:48
Streams of tears flow from my eyes. That’s because my people are destroyed.
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Jeremiah 4:19
I’m suffering! I’m really suffering! I’m hurting badly. My heart is suffering so much! It’s pounding inside me. I can’t keep silent. I’ve heard the sound of trumpets. I’ve heard the battle cry.
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Psalms 77:10
Then I thought,“ Here is what gives me hope. For many years the Most High God showed how powerful he is.
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Isaiah 8:17
I will wait for the Lord. He is turning his face away from Jacob’s people. I will put my trust in him.
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Lamentations 1:2
Jerusalem weeps bitterly at night. Tears run down her cheeks. None of her friends comforts her. All those who were going to help her have turned against her. They have become her enemies.
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Lamentations 3:18-21
So I say,“ My glory has faded away. My hope in the Lord is gone.”I remember how I suffered and wandered. I remember how bitter my life was.I remember it very well. My spirit is very sad deep down inside me.But here is something else I remember. And it gives me hope.