[a]I am the man who has seen affliction(A)
    by the rod of the Lord’s wrath.(B)
He has driven me away and made me walk
    in darkness(C) rather than light;
indeed, he has turned his hand against me(D)
    again and again, all day long.

He has made my skin and my flesh grow old(E)
    and has broken my bones.(F)
He has besieged me and surrounded me
    with bitterness(G) and hardship.(H)
He has made me dwell in darkness
    like those long dead.(I)

He has walled me in so I cannot escape;(J)
    he has weighed me down with chains.(K)
Even when I call out or cry for help,(L)
    he shuts out my prayer.(M)
He has barred(N) my way with blocks of stone;
    he has made my paths crooked.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 3:1 This chapter is an acrostic poem; the verses of each stanza begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and the verses within each stanza begin with the same letter.

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness(A) and the gall.(B)
20 I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast(C) within me.(D)
21 Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the Lord’s great love(E) we are not consumed,(F)
    for his compassions never fail.(G)
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.(H)
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;(I)
    therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;(J)
26 it is good to wait quietly(K)
    for the salvation of the Lord.(L)
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
    while he is young.

28 Let him sit alone in silence,(M)
    for the Lord has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust(N)
    there may yet be hope.(O)
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,(P)
    and let him be filled with disgrace.(Q)

31 For no one is cast off
    by the Lord forever.(R)
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love.(S)
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
    or grief to anyone.(T)

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10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke(A) of the grace that was to come to you,(B) searched intently and with the greatest care,(C) 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ(D) in them was pointing when he predicted(E) the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you,(F) when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you(G) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.(H) Even angels long to look into these things.

Be Holy

13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,(I) set your hope(J) on the grace to be brought to you(K) when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.(L) 14 As obedient(M) children, do not conform(N) to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.(O) 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;(P) 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a](Q)

17 Since you call on a Father(R) who judges each person’s work(S) impartially,(T) live out your time as foreigners(U) here in reverent fear.(V) 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed(W) from the empty way of life(X) handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood(Y) of Christ, a lamb(Z) without blemish or defect.(AA) 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world,(AB) but was revealed in these last times(AC) for your sake.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 1:16 Lev. 11:44,45; 19:2

36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”(A)

Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now,(B) but you will follow later.”(C)

37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!(D)

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The Burial of Jesus(A)

38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders.(B) With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus,(C) the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.[a] 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen.(D) This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.(E) 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation(F) and since the tomb was nearby,(G) they laid Jesus there.

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Footnotes

  1. John 19:39 Or about 34 kilograms

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