Lamentations 3:48-60

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

49 My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief,

50 until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.

51 What I see brings grief to my soul because of all the women of my city.

52 Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird.

53 They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me;

54 the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to perish.

55 I called on your name, LORD, from the depths of the pit.

56 You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.”

57 You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.”

58 You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life.

59 LORD, you have seen the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause!

60 You have seen the depth of their vengeance, all their plots against me.

Lamentations 3:48-60 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. S Psalms 119:136
• 2. S Jeremiah 9:1,18; Lamentations 1:16
• 3. Lamentations 2:11
• 4. Jeremiah 14:17; S Lamentations 2:18
• 5. S Psalms 14:2; Psalms 80:14; S Isaiah 63:15
• 6. Psalms 35:7
• 7. Jeremiah 37:16; S Jeremiah 38:6
• 8. Psalms 69:2; John 2:3-5
• 9. ver 18; Psalms 88:5; Ezekiel 37:11
• 10. S Psalms 88:6
• 11. Psalms 130:1; John 2:2
• 12. S Psalms 55:1; Psalms 116:1-2
• 13. S Psalms 46:1
• 14. Isaiah 41:10
• 15. S Jeremiah 51:36
• 16. Psalms 34:22; S Jeremiah 50:34
• 17. Jeremiah 18:19-20
• 18. Psalms 35:23; Psalms 43:1
• 19. S Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 18:18