Lamentations 3:36

36 to deprive them of justice— would not the Lord see such things?

Lamentations 3:36 in Other Translations

KJV
36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
ESV
36 to subvert a man in his lawsuit, the Lord does not approve.
NLT
36 if they twist justice in the courts— doesn’t the Lord see all these things?
MSG
36 Tampering with evidence - the Master does not approve of such things. God Speaks Both Good Things and Hard Things into Being
CSB
36 or suppressing a person's lawsuit- the Lord does not approve [of these things].

Lamentations 3:36 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 3:36

To subvert a man in his cause
A poor man, as the Targum, which aggravates it; as by courses and methods taken in an open court, so by secret underhand ways, to get the cause from him, and injure him in his property: the Lord approveth not;
or, "seeth not" F7; which some understand as spoken by wicked men, who do the above things, and flatter themselves that God sees not, and takes no notice of them, ( Ezekiel 9:9 ) ; and others read it interrogatively, "doth not the Lord see?" F8 he does; he sees all the actions of men, nothing is hid from him; but he sees not with approbation; he do not look upon such things with delight and pleasure, but with abhorrence, ( Habakkuk 1:13 ) . The Targum is,

``is it possible that it should not be revealed before the Lord?''

FOOTNOTES:

F7 (har al) "non vidit, vel videt", Pagninus, Montanus, Calvin.
F8 "Non videret?" Piscator.

Lamentations 3:36 In-Context

34 To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land,
35 to deny people their rights before the Most High,
36 to deprive them of justice— would not the Lord see such things?
37 Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?

Cross References 1

  • 1. Psalms 140:12; S Proverbs 17:15; S Jeremiah 22:3; Habakkuk 1:13
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