Lamentaciones 3:1-20

1 YO soy el hombre que ha visto aflicción en la vara de su enojo.

2 Guióme y llevóme en tinieblas, mas no en luz.

3 Ciertamente contra mí volvió y revolvió su mano todo el día.

4 Hizo envejecer mi carne y mi piel; quebrantó mis huesos.

5 Edificó contra mí, y cercóme de tósigo y de trabajo.

6 Asentóme en oscuridades, como los ya muertos de mucho tiempo.

7 Cercóme por todos lados, y no puedo salir; agravó mis grillos.

8 Aun cuando clamé y dí voces, cerro los oídos a mi oración.

9 Cercó mis caminos con piedra tajada, torció mis senderos.

10 Como oso que acecha fué para mí, como león en escondrijos.

11 Torció mis caminos, y depedazóme; tornóme asolado.

12 Su arco entesó, y púsome como blanco a la saeta.

13 Hizo entrar en mis riñones las saetas de su aljaba.

14 Fuí escarnio á todo mi pueblo, canción de ellos todos los días.

15 Hartóme de amarguras, embriagóme de ajenjos.

16 Quebróme los dientes con cascajo, cubrióme de ceniza.

17 Y mi alma se alejó de la paz, olvidéme del bien.

18 Y dije: Pereció mi fortaleza, y mi esperanza de Jehová.

19 Acuérdate de mi aflicción y de mi abatimiento, del ajenjo y de la hiel.

20 Tendrálo aún en memoria mi alma, porque en mí está humillada.

Lamentaciones 3:1-20 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.