Lamentaciones 3

1 YO soy el hombre que ha visto aflicción en la vara de su enojo.

2 Guióme y llevóme en tinieblas, mas no en luz.

3 Ciertamente contra mí volvió y revolvió su mano todo el día.

4 Hizo envejecer mi carne y mi piel; quebrantó mis huesos.

5 Edificó contra mí, y cercóme de tósigo y de trabajo.

6 Asentóme en oscuridades, como los ya muertos de mucho tiempo.

7 Cercóme por todos lados, y no puedo salir; agravó mis grillos.

8 Aun cuando clamé y dí voces, cerro los oídos a mi oración.

9 Cercó mis caminos con piedra tajada, torció mis senderos.

10 Como oso que acecha fué para mí, como león en escondrijos.

11 Torció mis caminos, y depedazóme; tornóme asolado.

12 Su arco entesó, y púsome como blanco a la saeta.

13 Hizo entrar en mis riñones las saetas de su aljaba.

14 Fuí escarnio á todo mi pueblo, canción de ellos todos los días.

15 Hartóme de amarguras, embriagóme de ajenjos.

16 Quebróme los dientes con cascajo, cubrióme de ceniza.

17 Y mi alma se alejó de la paz, olvidéme del bien.

18 Y dije: Pereció mi fortaleza, y mi esperanza de Jehová.

19 Acuérdate de mi aflicción y de mi abatimiento, del ajenjo y de la hiel.

20 Tendrálo aún en memoria mi alma, porque en mí está humillada.

21 Esto reduciré á mi corazón, por lo cual esperaré.

22 Es por la misericordia de Jehová que no somos consumidos, porque nunca decayeron sus misericordias.

23 Nuevas son cada mañana; grande es tu fidelidad.

24 Mi parte es Jehová, dijo mi alma; por tanto en él esperaré.

25 Bueno es Jehová á los que en él esperan, al alma que le buscare.

26 Bueno es esperar callando en la salud de Jehová.

27 Bueno es al hombre, si llevare el yugo desde su mocedad.

28 Sentaráse solo, y callará, porque lo llevó sobre sí.

29 Pondrá su boca en el polvo, por si quizá hay esperanza.

30 Dará la mejilla al que le hiriere; hartaráse de afrenta.

31 Porque el Señor no desechará para siempre:

32 Antes si afligiere, también se compadecerá según la multitud de sus misericordias.

33 Porque no aflige ni congoja de su corazón á los hijos de los hombres.

34 Desmenuzar bajo de sus pies todos los encarcelados de la tierra,

35 Hacer apartar el derecho del hombre ante la presencia del Altísimo,

36 Trastornar al hombre en su causa, el Señor no lo sabe.

37 ¿Quién será aquel que diga, que vino algo que el Señor no mandó?

38 ¿De la boca del Altísimo no saldrá malo y bueno?

39 ¿Por qué murmura el hombre viviente, el hombre en su pecado?

40 Escudriñemos nuestros caminos, y busquemos, y volvámonos a Jehová.

41 Levantemos nuestros corazones con las manos a Dios en los cielos.

42 Nosotros nos hemos rebelado, y fuimos desleales; tú no perdonaste.

43 Desplegaste la ira, y nos perseguiste; mataste, no perdonaste.

44 Te cubriste de nube, porque no pasase la oración nuestra.

45 Raedura y abominación nos tornaste en medio de los pueblos.

46 Todos nuestros enemigos abrieron sobre nosotros su boca.

47 Temor y lazo fué para nosotros, asolamiento y quebrantamiento.

48 Ríos de aguas echan mis ojos, por el quebrantamiento de la hija de mi pueblo.

49 Mis ojos destilan, y no cesan, porque no hay alivio,

50 Hasta que Jehová mire y vea desde los cielos.

51 Mis ojos contristaron mi alma, por todas las hijas de mi ciudad.

52 Mis enemigos me dieron caza como á ave, sin por qué.

53 Ataron mi vida en mazmorra, pusieron piedra sobre mí.

54 Aguas de avenida vinieron sobre mi cabeza; yo dije: Muerto soy.

55 Invoqué tu nombre, oh Jehová, desde la cárcel profunda.

56 Oiste mi voz; no escondas tu oído á mi clamor, para mi respiro

57 Acercástete el día que te invoqué: dijiste: No temas.

58 Abogaste, Señor, la causa de mi alma; redimiste mi vida.

59 Tú has visto, oh Jehová, mi agravio; defiende mi causa.

60 Tú has visto toda su venganza; todos sus pensamientos contra mí.

61 Tú has oído el oprobio de ellos, oh Jehová, todas sus maquinaciones contra mí;

62 Los dichos de los que contra mí se levantaron, y su designio contra mí todo el día.

63 Su sentarse, y su levantarse mira: yo soy su canción.

64 Dales el pago, oh Jehová, según la obra de sus manos.

65 Dales ansia de corazón, tu maldición á ellos.

66 Persíguelos en tu furor, y quebrántalos de debajo de los cielos, oh Jehová.

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.

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.