Lamentaciones 3

Álef

1 Yo soy aquel que ha sufrido la aflicciónbajo la vara de su ira.

2 Me ha hecho andar en las tinieblas;me ha apartado de la luz.

3 Una y otra vez, y a todas horas,su mano se ha vuelto contra mí.

Bet

4 Me ha marchitado la carne y la piel;me ha quebrantado los huesos.

5 Me ha tendido un cercode amargura y tribulaciones.

6 Me obliga a vivir en las tinieblas,como a los que hace tiempo murieron.

Guímel

7 Me tiene encerrado, no puedo escapar;me ha puesto pesadas cadenas.

8 Por más que grito y pido ayuda,él se niega a escuchar mi oración.

9 Ha sembrado de piedras mi camino;ha torcido mis senderos.

Dálet

10 Me vigila como oso agazapado;me acecha como león.

11 Me aparta del camino para despedazarme;¡me deja del todo desvalido!

12 Con el arco tenso,me ha hecho blanco de sus flechas.

He

13 Me ha partido el corazóncon las flechas de su aljaba.

14 Soy el hazmerreír de todo mi pueblo;todo el día me cantan parodias.

15 Me ha llenado de amargura,me ha hecho beber hiel.

Vav

16 Me ha estrellado contra el suelo;me ha hecho morder el polvo.

17 Me ha quitado la paz;ya no recuerdo lo que es la dicha.

18 Y digo: «La vida se me acaba,junto con mi esperanza en el SEÑOR».

Zayin

19 Recuerda que ando errante y afligido,que estoy saturado de hiel y amargura.

20 Siempre tengo esto presente,y por eso me deprimo.

21 Pero algo más me viene a la memoria,lo cual me llena de esperanza:

Jet

22 El gran amor del SEÑOR nunca se acaba,^[a]y su compasión jamás se agota.

23 Cada mañana se renuevan sus bondades;¡muy grande es su fidelidad!

24 Por tanto, digo:«El SEÑOR es todo lo que tengo.¡En él esperaré!»

Tet

25 Bueno es el SEÑOR con quienes en él confían,con todos los que lo buscan.

26 Bueno es esperar calladamenteque el SEÑOR venga a salvarnos.

27 Bueno es que el hombre aprendaa llevar el yugo desde su juventud.

Yod

28 ¡Déjenlo estar solo y en silencio,porque así el SEÑOR se lo impuso!

29 ¡Que hunda el rostro en el polvo!¡Tal vez haya esperanza todavía!

30 ¡Que dé la otra mejilla a quien lo hiera,y quede así cubierto de oprobio!

Caf

31 El Señor nos ha rechazado,pero no será para siempre.

32 Nos hace sufrir, pero también nos compadece,porque es muy grande su amor.

33 El Señor nos hiere y nos aflige,pero no porque sea de su agrado.

Lámed

34 Cuando se aplasta bajo el piea todos los prisioneros de la tierra,

35 cuando en presencia del Altísimose le niegan al hombre sus derechos

36 y no se le hace justicia,¿el Señor no se da cuenta?

Mem

37 ¿Quién puede anunciar algo y hacerlo realidadsin que el Señor dé la orden?

38 ¿No es acaso por mandato del Altísimoque acontece lo bueno y lo malo?

39 ¿Por qué habría de quejarse en vidaquien es castigado por sus pecados?

Nun

40 Hagamos un examen de concienciay volvamos al camino del SEÑOR.

41 Elevemos al Dios de los cielosnuestro corazón y nuestras manos.

42 Hemos pecado, hemos sido rebeldes,y tú no has querido perdonarnos.

Sámej

43 Ardiendo en ira nos persigues;nos masacras sin piedad.

44 Te envuelves en una nubepara no escuchar nuestra oración.

45 Como a escoria despreciable,nos has arrojado entre las naciones.

Pe

46 Todos nuestros enemigos abren la bocapara hablar mal de nosotros.

47 Hemos sufrido terrores, caídas,ruina y destrucción.

48 Ríos de lágrimas corren por mis mejillasporque ha sido destruida la capital de mi pueblo.

Ayin

49 Se inundarán en llanto mis ojos,sin cesar y sin consuelo,

50 hasta que desde el cieloel SEÑOR se digne mirarnos.

51 Me duele en lo más profundo del almaver sufrir a las mujeres de mi ciudad.

Tsade

52 Mis enemigos me persiguen sin razón,y quieren atraparme como a un ave.

53 Me quieren enterrar vivoy taparme con piedras la salida.

54 Las aguas me han cubierto la cabeza;tal parece que me ha llegado el fin.

Qof

55 Desde lo más profundo de la fosainvoqué, SEÑOR, tu nombre,

56 y tú escuchaste mi plegaria;no cerraste tus oídos a mi clamor.

57 Te invoqué, y viniste a mí;«No temas», me dijiste.

Resh

58 Tú, Señor, te pusiste de mi partey me salvaste la vida.

59 Tú, SEÑOR, viste el mal que me causaron;¡hazme justicia!

60 Tú notaste su sed de venganzay todas sus maquinaciones en mi contra.

Shin

61 SEÑOR, tú has escuchado sus insultosy todas sus maquinaciones en mi contra;

62 tú sabes que todo el día mis enemigosmurmuran y se confabulan contra mí.

63 ¡Míralos! Hagan lo que hagan,^[b]se burlan de mí en sus canciones.

Tav

64 ¡Dales, SEÑOR, su merecidopor todo lo que han hecho!

65 Oscurece su entendimiento,¡y caiga sobre ellos tu maldición!

66 Persíguelos, SEÑOR, en tu enojo,y bórralos de este mundo.

Lamentaciones 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

The faithful lament their calamities, and hope in God's mercies.

Verses 1-20 The prophet relates the more gloomy and discouraging part of his experience, and how he found support and relief. In the time of his trial the Lord had become terrible to him. It was an affliction that was misery itself; for sin makes the cup of affliction a bitter cup. The struggle between unbelief and faith is often very severe. But the weakest believer is wrong, if he thinks that his strength and hope are perished from the Lord.

Verses 21-36 Having stated his distress and temptation, the prophet shows how he was raised above it. Bad as things are, it is owing to the mercy of God that they are not worse. We should observe what makes for us, as well as what is against us. God's compassions fail not; of this we have fresh instances every morning. Portions on earth are perishing things, but God is a portion for ever. It is our duty, and will be our comfort and satisfaction, to hope and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord. Afflictions do and will work very much for good: many have found it good to bear this yoke in their youth; it has made many humble and serious, and has weaned them from the world, who otherwise would have been proud and unruly. If tribulation work patience, that patience will work experience, and that experience a hope that makes not ashamed. Due thoughts of the evil of sin, and of our own sinfulness, will convince us that it is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed. If we cannot say with unwavering voice, The Lord is my portion; may we not say, I desire to have Him for my portion and salvation, and in his word do I hope? Happy shall we be, if we learn to receive affliction as laid upon us by the hand of God.

Verses 37-41 While there is life there is hope; and instead of complaining that things are bad, we should encourage ourselves with the hope they will be better. We are sinful men, and what we complain of, is far less than our sins deserve. We should complain to God, and not of him. We are apt, in times of calamity, to reflect on other people's ways, and blame them; but our duty is to search and try our own ways, that we may turn from evil to God. Our hearts must go with our prayers. If inward impressions do not answer to outward expressions, we mock God, and deceive ourselves.

Verses 42-54 The more the prophet looked on the desolations, the more he was grieved. Here is one word of comfort. While they continued weeping, they continued waiting; and neither did nor would expect relief and succour from any but the Lord.

Verses 55-66 Faith comes off conqueror, for in these verses the prophet concludes with some comfort. Prayer is the breath of the new man, drawing in the air of mercy in petitions, and returning it in praises; it proves and maintains the spiritual life. He silenced their fears, and quieted their spirits. Thou saidst, Fear not. This was the language of God's grace, by the witness of his Spirit with their spirits. And what are all our sorrows, compared with those of the Redeemer? He will deliver his people from every trouble, and revive his church from every persecution. He will save believers with everlasting salvation, while his enemies perish with everlasting destruction.

Footnotes

• [a]. "El gran " "… " "acaba " (Siríaca y Targum); "Por el gran amor del Señor no somos consumidos " (TM).
• [b]. "¡Míralos! Hagan lo que hagan" . Lit. "Su sentarse y su levantarse mira" .

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO LAMENTATIONS 3

This chapter is a complaint and lamentation like the former, and on the same subject, only the prophet mixes his own afflictions and distresses with the public calamities; or else he represents the church in her complaints; and some have thought him to be a type of Christ throughout the whole; to whom various things may be applied. It is indeed written in a different form from the other chapters, in another sort of metre; and though in an alphabetical manner as the rest, yet with this difference, that three verses together begin with the same letter; so that the alphabet is gone through three times in it. Here is first a complaint of the afflictions of the prophet, and of the people, expressed by a rod, by darkness, by wormwood and gall, and many other things; and especially by the Lord's appearing against them as an enemy, in a most severe and terrible manner; shutting out their prayer; being as a bear and lion to them; and giving them up to the cruelty and scorn of their enemies, La 3:1-21; then follows some comfort taken by them, from the mercy, faithfulness, and goodness of God; from the usefulness of patience in bearing afflictions; and from the end of God in laying them upon men; and from the providence of God, by which all things are ordered, La 3:22-38; wherefore, instead of complaining, it would be better, it is suggested, to attend to the duties of examination of their ways, and of repentance, and of prayer, La 3:39-41; and a particular prayer is directed to, in which confession of sin is made, and their miseries deplored, by reason of the hidings of God's face, and the insults of their enemies, La 3:42-47; and then the prophet expresses his sympathy with his people under affliction, and declares what he himself met with from his enemies, La 3:48-54; and relates bow he called upon the Lord, and he heard and delivered him, La 3:55-58; and concludes with a request that he would judge his cause, and avenge him on enemies, La 3:59-66.