Lamentations 3:17-27

17 My soul has been rejected ¹from peace; I have forgotten happiness.

18 So I say, "My strength has perished, And so has my ²hope from the LORD."

Hope of Relief in God's Mercy

19 Remember my affliction and my wandering, the ³wormwood and bitterness.

20 Surely ⁴my soul remembers And is ⁵bowed down within me.

21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore * I have ⁶hope.

22 The LORD'S ⁷lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, ⁸For His compassions never fail.

23 They are new ⁹every morning; Great is ¹⁰Your faithfulness.

24 "The LORD is my ¹¹portion," says my soul, "Therefore * I ¹²have hope in Him."

25 The LORD is good to those who ¹³wait for Him, To the person who ¹⁴seeks Him.

26 It is good that he ¹⁵waits silently For the salvation of the LORD.

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

Lamentations 3:17-27 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. Isaiah 59:11; Jeremiah 12:12
• 2. Job 17:15; Ezekiel 37:11
• 3. Jeremiah 9:15; Lamentations 3:5, 15
• 4. Job 21:6
• 5. Ps 42:5, 6, 11; Psalms 43:5; Psalms 44:25
• 6. Psalms 130:7
• 7. Psalms 78:38; Jeremiah 3:12; Jeremiah 30:11
• 8. Malachi 3:6
• 9. Isaiah 33:2; Zephaniah 3:5
• 10. Hebrews 10:23
• 11. Psalms 16:5; Psalms 73:26
• 12. Psalms 33:18
• 13. Psalms 27:14; Isaiah 25:9
• 14. Isaiah 26:9
• 15. Psalms 37:7

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "good"
• [b] Or "bitterness"
• [c] Or "that we are not consumed"
• [d] Lit "soul"