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Viewing the Standard King James Version (Pure Cambridge). Click to switch to 1611 King James Version of Lamentations Chapter 3
1 I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
6 He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
10 He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
11 He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
34 To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,
35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.
37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
42 We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.
43 Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.
45 Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.
46 All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
47 Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.
48 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49 Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,
50 Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.
51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.
52 Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.
53 They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.
54 Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.
55 I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.
56 Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.
57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
58 O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.
59 O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.
60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.
61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;
62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.
63 Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.
64 Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.
65 Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
66 Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.
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Matthew Henry's Lamentations Chapter 3 Bible commentary...
The faithful lament their calamities, and hope in God's mercies.1-20 The prophet relates the more gloomy and discouraging part of his experience, and how he found support and relief. In the time of his trial the Lord had become terrible to him. It was an affliction that was misery itself; for sin makes the cup of affliction a bitter cup. The struggle between unbelief and faith is often very severe. But the weakest believer is wrong, if he thinks that his strength and hope are perished from the Lord.
21-36 Having stated his distress and temptation, the prophet shows how he was raised above it. Bad as things are, it is owing to the mercy of God that they are not worse. We should observe what makes for us, as well as what is against us. God's compassions fail not; of this we have fresh instances every morning. Portions on earth are perishing things, but God is a portion for ever. It is our duty, and will be our comfort and satisfaction, to hope and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord. Afflictions do and will work very much for good: many have found it good to bear this yoke in their youth; it has made many humble and serious, and has weaned them from the world, who otherwise would have been proud and unruly. If tribulation work patience, that patience will work experience, and that experience a hope that makes not ashamed. Due thoughts of the evil of sin, and of our own sinfulness, will convince us that it is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed. If we cannot say with unwavering voice, The Lord is my portion; may we not say, I desire to have Him for my portion and salvation, and in his word do I hope? Happy shall we be, if we learn to receive affliction as laid upon us by the hand of God.
37-41 While there is life there is hope; and instead of complaining that things are bad, we should encourage ourselves with the hope they will be better. We are sinful men, and what we complain of, is far less than our sins deserve. We should complain to God, and not of him. We are apt, in times of calamity, to reflect on other people's ways, and blame them; but our duty is to search and try our own ways, that we may turn from evil to God. Our hearts must go with our prayers. If inward impressions do not answer to outward expressions, we mock God, and deceive ourselves.
42-54 The more the prophet looked on the desolations, the more he was grieved. Here is one word of comfort. While they continued weeping, they continued waiting; and neither did nor would expect relief and succour from any but the Lord.
55-66 Faith comes off conqueror, for in these verses the prophet concludes with some comfort. Prayer is the breath of the new man, drawing in the air of mercy in petitions, and returning it in praises; it proves and maintains the spiritual life. He silenced their fears, and quieted their spirits. Thou saidst, Fear not. This was the language of God's grace, by the witness of his Spirit with their spirits. And what are all our sorrows, compared with those of the Redeemer? He will deliver his people from every trouble, and revive his church from every persecution. He will save believers with everlasting salvation, while his enemies perish with everlasting destruction.
Recent Comments for Lamentations Chapter 3...
Caspar's Lamentations Chapter 3 comment on 5/17/2013, 11:14am...
v.25 He who ic conscious that he deserves nothing, and that he needs much,will feel as if GOD were not exacting nothing unreasonable in making him wait.
So Mr. J.M. 'Cosh
Evalena Jacobs-Latham's Lamentations Chapter 3 comment about verse 22 on 5/09/2013, 9:09am...
I thank God for His mercies and compassions in our time even as they were in days gone. This assures us of our security in Him; even in this day of terrorism and destruction. Almighty God is still in charge of this world. We do not understand it all, but if was not for His grace all of us would have been destroyed by evil men.
Florence's Lamentations Chapter 3 comment about verse 37 on 10/03/2012, 5:22am...
This tells us that whatever will be done or said against you by a man or spiritual forces will never have effect if the Lord has not approved it. We ought to know what God has said about us, we need to focus and meditate that rather than giving attention to what any other person or force will say about it. And the reason is that it is only God who has the final say in our lives in as much as we are connected to him. God bless you for hooking into his word.
Dedarah's Lamentations Chapter 3 comment about verse 22 on 9/17/2012, 6:13am...
I think it wonders to know that GOD loves us so much that he renews his mercy and grace, as sinners saved by his son Jesus, we have been redeemed. Thank you Lord GOD
Simba's Lamentations Chapter 3 comment on 3/09/2012, 4:30pm...
when i read lamentations 3 verse 51-55 it shows me that God always hear our prayers and he walks on our paths before us,may God bless his word,,,happy sabbath
Kay's Lamentations Chapter 3 comment on 1/19/2012, 9:46am...
I think this is a powerful chapter which speaks in general about mans distresses but specifically and more importantly about the amazing compassion of God.It erupts such hope in my heart that i start to overlook my own distresses and start to soar in God's assurance.I am bless and i love the Lord.
GAIL's Lamentations Chapter 3 comment on 12/22/2011, 9:43pm...
WHEN I READ CHAPTER 3;25 I THINK OF ALL THE CHILDEREN IN THE WORLD WHO ARE NOT BEING TAUGHT ABOUT WAITING AND BEING PATIENT.kIDS ARE GROWING UP NOT KNOWING ABOUT GOD WILL IN THEIR LIFE AND WAITING FOR HIM TO ANSWER.IT MAKESPERFRCT SINCE FOR A MAN TO BEAR HIS YOKE IN HIS YOUTH.sO TRUE BACK THEN SO TRUE NOW.I LOVE HOW GOD NEVER CHANGES IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR 2000 YEARS.THANK YOU GOD FOR OPENING MY EYES SO I CAN SEE IAM GOING OT TALK TO MY DAUGHTER RIGHT NOW.
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