Lamentations 3:22-32

22 The LORD'S ¹lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, ²For His compassions never fail.

23 They are new ³every morning; Great is ⁴Your faithfulness.

24 "The LORD is my ⁵portion," says my soul, "Therefore * I ⁶have hope in Him."

25 The LORD is good to those who ⁷wait for Him, To the person who ⁸seeks Him.

26 It is good that he ⁹waits silently For the salvation of the LORD.

27 It is good for a man that he should bear The yoke in his youth.

28 Let him ¹⁰sit alone and be silent Since He has laid it on him.

29 Let him put his mouth in the ¹¹dust, Perhaps there is ¹²hope.

30 Let him give his ¹³cheek to the smiter, Let him be filled with reproach.

31 For the Lord will ¹⁴not reject forever,

32 For if He causes grief, Then He will have ¹⁵compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness.

Lamentations 3:22-32 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 78:38; Jeremiah 3:12; Jeremiah 30:11
• 2. Malachi 3:6
• 3. Isaiah 33:2; Zephaniah 3:5
• 4. Hebrews 10:23
• 5. Psalms 16:5; Psalms 73:26
• 6. Psalms 33:18
• 7. Psalms 27:14; Isaiah 25:9
• 8. Isaiah 26:9
• 9. Psalms 37:7
• 10. Jeremiah 15:17
• 11. Job 16:15; Job 40:4
• 12. Jeremiah 31:17
• 13. Job 16:10; Isaiah 50:6
• 14. Psalms 77:7; Psalms 94:14; Isaiah 54:7-10
• 15. Psalms 78:38; Psalms 106:43-45; Hosea 11:8

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "that we are not consumed"
• [b]. Lit "soul"
• [c]. Lit "give"
• [d]. Lit "his"