Lament Passages Sorted by Type

Jump to lament component:

Turn to God
Bring Your Complaint
Ask Boldly
Choose to Trust

1. Turn to God

Hear And Answer Me!

Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan – Psalm 55:2
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! – Psalm 143:1
Out of the depths I cry to you, oh Lord! Oh Lord, hear my voice! – Psalm 130:1-2a
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! – Psalm 143:2

Have Mercy

Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. – Psalm 69:1
Oh Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! – Psalm 38:1
Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call! – Psalm 102:2
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love – Psalm 51:1a
With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. – Psalm 142:1
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge – Psalm 57:1a

I Seek the Lord

In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying. – Psalm 77:2
Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. – Psalm 88:1
I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. – Psalm 142:2
In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. – Psalm 57:1b
In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. – Psalm 120:1
I cry aloud to God, aloud to God and he will hear me. – Psalm 77:1
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. – Psalm 42:1

In Anger

Oh Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! – Psalm 94:1

Remembering Previous Faithfulness

Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. – Psalm 85:1-2
Oh God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old – Psalm 44:1
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. – Psalm 90:1

Turning with Complaint

Oh God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us. – Psalm 60:1
Oh God, why do you cast us off forever? – Psalm 74:1a
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? – Psalm 13:1

2. Bring Your Complaint

Why? How long?

Why, oh Lord, do you stand afar off? – Psalm 10:1a
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? – Psalm 22:1b
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? – Psalm 22:1a
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? – Psalm 10:1b
Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? – Psalm 44:24
Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? – Psalm 74:1b
I say to God, my rock: “why have you forgotten me?” – Psalm 42:9a
Have you not rejected us, O God? – Psalm 60:10a
How long, oh Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire? – Psalm 79:5
How long will you hide your face from me? – Psalm 13:1b
Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? – Psalm 85:6
Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has he in anger shut up his compassion? – Psalm 77:8-9a
Oh my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. – Psalm 22:2

Complaints against God

You have taken me up and thrown me down. – Psalm 102:10b
You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. – Psalm 88:6
You have rejected us and disgraced us and have not gone out with our armies. – Psalm 44:9
Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. – Psalm 88:7
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. – Psalm 32:4
You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them. – Psalm 44:12
You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. – Psalm 60:3
All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you, and we have not been false to your covenant. – Psalm 44:17

Voicing Troubles

I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. – Psalm 69:2
My soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. – Psalm 88:3
You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. – Psalm 77:4
I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! – Psalm 70:5
My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness – Psalm 38:5
The years of our life arebut toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. – Psalm 90:10b

Abandoned or Betrayed

As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises. – Psalm 55:20 (NLT)
For it is not an enemy who taunts me – then I could bear it… But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. – Psalm 55:12-13
Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul. – Psalm 142:4
I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. – Psalm 69:20b
I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. – Psalm 22:6
You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness. – Psalm 88:18
My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease. Even my own family stands at a distance. – Psalm 38:11 (NLT)
I have become a stranger to my brothers, and alien to my mother’s sons. – Psalm 69:8

The Attack of Enemies

My enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. – Psalm 56:2
They profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground. – Psalm 74:7b
Oh Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me – Psalm 3:1
They burned all the meeting places of God in the land. – Psalm 74:8b
They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. – Psalm 57:6
For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. – Psalm 44:22
My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts – Psalm 55:4
More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause – Psalm 69:4a
How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? – Psalm 74:10
The arrogant have hidden a trap for me – Psalm 140:5a
They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth. – Psalm 79:2
For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. – Psalm 143:3
For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. – Psalm 55:3a

Against the Wicked

Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. – Psalm 73:12
Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “you will not call to account”? – Psalm 10:13
His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression – Psalm 10:7a
Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. – Psalm 120:6
They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. – Psalm 94:4
Oh Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? – Psalm 94:3
I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. – Psalm 73:3

My Emotions and Distress

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. – Psalm 46:8
Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. And I say, “oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest” – Psalm 55:5-6
My heart is struck down like grass and has withered – Psalm 102:4
I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. – Psalm 6:6
When I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task – Psalm 73:16
All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face – Psalm 44:15
My soul is cast down within me – Psalm 42:5
My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me continually, “where is your God?” – Psalm 42:3
How long must I have sorrow in my heart all the day? – Psalm 13:2b
My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes – it also has gone from me. – Psalm 38:10
I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. – Psalm 69:3
I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the house top. – Psalm 102:7

My Sin

I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. – Psalm 38:18
You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. – Psalm 90:8
My iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. – Psalms 38:4
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, oh Lord, who could stand? – Psalm 130:3
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight – Psalm 51:4

Injustice

The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall – Psalm 10:10
All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. – Psalm 73:13
They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; and they say, “the Lord does not see” – Psalm 94:6-7a

3. Ask Boldly

Be Near and Answer Me

Do not forsake me, O Lord! Oh my God, be not far from me! – Psalms 38:21
Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. – Psalm 22:11
Arise, oh Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. – Psalm 10:12
But you, O Lord, do not be far off! Oh you my help, come quickly to my aid! – Psalm 22:19
Consider and answer me, oh Lord my God; light up my eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death – Psalm 13:3
Answer me quickly, oh Lord! My spirit fails! – Psalm 143:7
Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! – Psalms 38:22

Restore and Bless Us

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. – Psalm 143:8
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! – Psalm 90:17
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. – Psalm 90:15
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. – Psalm 51:12
Restore our fortunes, oh Lord, like streams in the desert! – Psalm 126:4
May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! – Psalm 70:4

Lead and Teach Us

Let your good spirit lead me on level ground! – Psalm 143:10b
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak – Psalm 85:8
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! – Psalm 143:10a
Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! – Psalm 43:3

Help and Deliver Us

Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever. – Psalm 74:19
Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die! – Psalm 79:11
Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love! – Psalm 44:26
Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! – Psalm 142:7a
“Oh my God” I say, “take me not away in the midst of my days – you whose years endures throughout all generations!” – Psalm 102:24
Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. – Psalm 6:4
Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. – Psalm 69:15

Cleanse and Save from Sin

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us and atone for our sins – Psalm 79:9
Oh Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. – Psalm 6:1
Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. – Psalm 143:2
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. – Psalm 51:10
Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. – Psalm 79:8
Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, oh Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. – Psalm 69:6

Do What Is Good

Remember that we are the people you chose long ago – Psalm 74:2a (NLT)
Answer me, Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. – Psalm 69:16
The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. – Psalm 7:8
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! – Psalm 57:5

Rescue from Enemies

Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! – Psalm 60:11
Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. – Psalm 120:2
Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! – Psalm 142:6
Arise, oh Lord! Save me, oh my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. – Psalm 3:7
Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet. – Psalm 140:4

Arise and Act

Arise, O Lord, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies – Psalm 7:6a
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people – Psalm 43:1a
Awake! Why are you sleeping, oh Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever! – Psalm 44:23
Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day! – Psalm 74:22

Destroy the Wicked

Take your hand from the fold of your garment and destroy them! – Psalm 74:11b
Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise! – Psalm 140:10
Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked – Psalm 140:8
Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them. – Psalm 69:24
Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! – Psalm 70:2b
Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord! – Psalm 79:12
Oh, let the evil of the wicked to come to an end, and may you establish the righteous – Psalm 7:9

4. Choose to Trust

Confidence in Who God Is

My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. – Psalm 7:10
I will give thanks to you, oh Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. – Psalm 57:9-10
Yet God my king is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. – Psalm 74:12
The Lord is King forever and ever – Psalm 10:16a
Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun. – Psalm 74:16
Your way, O God, is holy. What God is great like our God? – Psalm 77:13
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. – Psalm 55:22

Future Hope

Nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory. – Psalm 102:15
Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! – Psalm 126:5
The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! – Psalm 22:26a
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. – Psalm 42:11
With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes. – Psalm 60:12
The upright shall dwell in your presence. – Psalm 140:13b
Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. – Psalm 85:11-12
The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me. – Psalm 142:7b
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! – Psalm 57:3b
He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. – Psalm 130:8

Remembering what God Has Done

For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. But you have saved us from our foes – Psalm 44:6-7
I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. – Psalm 13:6
When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. – Psalm 94:19 (NLT)
You have delivered my soul from death, yes my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. – Psalm 56:13
I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. – Psalm 3:5
The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. – Psalm 126:3

God Is near His People

Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. – Psalm 73:23
But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, oh Lord my God, who will answer. – Psalm 38:15
He regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer. – Psalm 102:17
Evening and morning and afternoon I utter my complaint and moan and he hears my voice. – Psalm 55:17
The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. – Psalm 69:33
For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage – Psalm 94:14
Oh Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart – Psalm 10:17a
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. – Psalm 51:17
The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer. – Psalm 6:9
Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. – Psalm 6:8

I will Trust Him

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. – Psalm 56:3
I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. – Psalm 3:6
In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? – Psalm 56:11
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? – Psalm 56:4
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope – Psalm 130:5

Give Praise

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. – Psalm 69:30
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy – Psalm 43:4
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! – Psalm 57:7
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. – Psalm 13:5
In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. – Psalm 44:8
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! – Psalm 32:11
But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise. – Psalm 79:13
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. – Psalm 22:27

God is Refuge and Strength

You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. – Psalm 32:7
You, oh Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. – Psalm 3:3
You are my help and my deliverer; oh Lord, do not delay! – Psalm 70:5b
This I know, that God is for me. – Psalm 56:9b
You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. – Psalm 60:4
Who have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. – Psalm 73:25
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. – Psalm 73:26
The Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge. – Psalm 94:22

God Will Bring Justice

You will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. – Psalm 10:17-18
He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness – Psalm 94:23
I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. – Psalm 140:12
You will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant. – Psalm 143:12b

You Have Saved Previous Generations

You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. – Psalm 77:20
In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. – Psalm 22:4