Lamentations 3:37-66

37 Nobody can speak and have it happen unless the Lord commands it.

38 Both bad and good things come by the command of the Most High God.

39 No one should complain when he is punished for his sins.

40 Let us examine and see what we have done and then return to the Lord.

41 Let us lift up our hands and pray from our hearts to God in heaven:

42 "We have sinned and turned against you, and you have not forgiven us.

43 "You wrapped yourself in anger and chased us; you killed us without mercy.

44 You wrapped yourself in a cloud, and no prayer could get through.

45 You made us like scum and trash among the other nations.

46 "All of our enemies open their mouths and speak against us.

47 We have been frightened and fearful, ruined and destroyed."

48 Streams of tears flow from my eyes, because my people are destroyed.

49 My tears flow continually, without stopping,

50 until the Lord looks down and sees from heaven.

51 I am sad when I see what has happened to all the women of my city.

52 Those who are my enemies for no reason hunted me like a bird.

53 They tried to kill me in a pit; they threw stones at me.

54 Water came up over my head, and I said, "I am going to die."

55 I called out to you, Lord, from the bottom of the pit.

56 You heard me calling, "Do not close your ears and ignore my gasps and shouts."

57 You came near when I called to you; you said, "Don't be afraid."

58 Lord, you have taken my case and given me back my life.

59 Lord, you have seen how I have been wronged. Now judge my case for me.

60 You have seen how my enemies took revenge on me and made evil plans against me.

61 Lord, you have heard their insults and all their evil plans against me.

62 The words and thoughts of my enemies are against me all the time.

63 Look! In everything they do they make fun of me with songs.

64 Pay them back, Lord, for what they have done.

65 Make them stubborn, and put your curse on them.

66 Chase them in anger, Lord, and destroy them from under your heavens.

Lamentations 3:37-66 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.