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Lamentations 3:38

38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?

Lamentations 3:38 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
English Standard Version (ESV)
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?
New Living Translation (NLT)
38 Does not the Most High send both calamity and good?
The Message Bible (MSG)
38 Doesn't the High God speak everything, good things and hard things alike, into being?
American Standard Version (ASV)
38 Out of the mouth of the Most High cometh there not evil and good?
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
38 Both good and bad come from the mouth of the Most High God.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
38 Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High?
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
38 Troubles and good things alike come to people because the Most High God has commanded them to come.

Lamentations 3:38 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 3:38

Out of the mouth of the most High proceed not evil and good?
] Certainly they do; they come to pass, both one and the other, as God has pronounced, and his will determined; even "evils", as it is in the plural number; not the evil of sin, or of fault; this comes not out of the mouth of God, but is forbidden and condemned by him; much less is he the author of it, or tempter to it; indeed it is not without his knowledge, nor in some sense without his will; not with his will of approbation, but by his permissive will, which he suffers to be, and overrules for good; but evils here design the judgments of God, or punishment inflicted on sinners, and chastisement on his own people; the evil of affliction, or adverse dispensations of providence, ( Isaiah 45:7 ) ( Amos 3:6 ) ( Micah 6:9 ) ; they are all by his appointment; he has said or determined what shall be the kind and nature of them; the measure, how far they shall go; and the duration, how long they shall last; and the end and use of them; see ( Job 2:10 ) ( Job 5:6 Job 5:7 ) ( 23:14 ) ; and so all good comes from God, who is goodness itself; all created good, as every creature of God is good; every good thing in providence; all temporal good things; as to have a being; to be preserved in it; to have a habitation to dwell in; to have food and raiment, health and long life; these are all by the appointment of God, and according to the determination of his will: all spiritual good things are purposed, promised, and prepared by him in council and covenant; the great good of all, salvation by Christ; this is what God has appointed his son far, and his people to, and fixed the time of it, and all things relating to it; the effectual calling of the redeemed ones is according to his purpose and grace; the persons, thing itself, time, place, and means; also eternal glory and happiness, which is the kingdom prepared, the crown laid up, and inheritance reserved in heaven, according to the purpose of God; all good things, in time and eternity, are as God has pronounced them.

Lamentations 3:38 In-Context

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?
39 Why should the living complain when punished for their sins?
40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Job 2:10; S Isaiah 45:7; Jeremiah 32:42
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