2 He hath led H5090 me, and brought H3212 me into darkness, H2822 but not into light. H216
3 Surely against me is he turned; H7725 he turneth H2015 his hand H3027 against me all the day. H3117
4 My flesh H1320 and my skin H5785 hath he made old; H1086 he hath broken H7665 my bones. H6106
5 He hath builded against H1129 me, and compassed H5362 me with gall H7219 and travail. H8513
6 He hath set H3427 me in dark places, H4285 as they that be dead H4191 of old. H5769
7 He hath hedged H1443 me about, that I cannot get out: H3318 he hath made my chain H5178 heavy. H3513
8 Also when I cry H2199 and shout, H7768 he shutteth out H5640 my prayer. H8605
9 He hath inclosed H1443 my ways H1870 with hewn stone, H1496 he hath made my paths H5410 crooked. H5753
10 He was unto me as a bear H1677 lying in wait, H693 and as a lion H738 in secret places. H4565
11 He hath turned aside H5493 my ways, H1870 and pulled me in pieces: H6582 he hath made H7760 me desolate. H8074
12 He hath bent H1869 his bow, H7198 and set H5324 me as a mark H4307 for the arrow. H2671
13 He hath caused the arrows H1121 of his quiver H827 to enter H935 into my reins. H3629
14 I was a derision H7814 to all my people; H5971 and their song H5058 all the day. H3117
15 He hath filled H7646 me with bitterness, H4844 he hath made me drunken H7301 with wormwood. H3939
16 He hath also broken H1638 my teeth H8127 with gravel stones, H2687 he hath covered H3728 me with ashes. H665
17 And thou hast removed H2186 my soul H5315 far off H2186 from peace: H7965 I forgat H5382 prosperity. H2896
18 And I said, H559 My strength H5331 and my hope H8431 is perished H6 from the LORD: H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Lamentations 3
Commentary on Lamentations 3 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 3
The scope of this chapter is the same with that of the two foregoing chapters, but the composition is somewhat different; that was in long verse, this is in short, another kind of metre; that was in single alphabets, this is in a treble one. Here is,
Some make all this to be spoken by the prophet himself when he was imprisoned and persecuted; but it seems rather to be spoken in the person of the church now in captivity and in a manner desolate, and in the desolations of which the prophet did in a particular manner interest himself. But the complaints here are somewhat more general than those in the foregoing chapter, being accommodated to the case as well of particular persons as of the public, and intended for the use of the closet rather than of the solemn assembly. Some think Jeremiah makes these complaints, not only as an intercessor for Israel, but as a type of Christ, who was thought by some to be Jeremiah the weeping prophet, because he was much in tears (Mt. 16:14) and to him many of the passages here may be applied.
Lam 3:1-20
The title of the 102nd Psalm might very fitly be prefixed to this chapter-The prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and pours out his complaint before the Lord; for it is very feelingly and fluently that the complaint is here poured out. Let us observe the particulars of it. The prophet complains,
Lam 3:21-36
Here the clouds begin to disperse and the sky to clear up; the complaint was very melancholy in the former part of the chapter, and yet here the tune is altered and the mourners in Zion begin to look a little pleasant. But for hope, the heart would break. To save the heart from being quite broken, here is something called to mind, which gives ground for hope (v. 21), which refers to what comes after, not to what goes before. I make to return to my heart (so the margin words it); what we have had in our hearts, and have laid to our hearts, is sometimes as if it were quite lost and forgotten, till God by his grace make it return to our hearts, that it may be ready to us when we have occasion to use it. "I recall it to mind; therefore have I hope, and am kept from downright despair.' Let us see what these things are which he calls to mind.
Lam 3:37-41
That we may be entitled to the comforts administered to the afflicted in the foregoing verses, and may taste the sweetness of them, we have here the duties of an afflicted state prescribed to us, in the performance of which we may expect those comforts.
Lam 3:42-54
It is easier to chide ourselves for complaining than to chide ourselves out of it. The prophet had owned that a living man should not complain, as if he checked himself for his complaints in the former part of the chapter; and yet here the clouds return after the rain and the wound bleeds afresh; for great pains must be taken with a troubled spirit to bring it into temper.
Lam 3:55-66
We may observe throughout this chapter a struggle in the prophet's breast between sense and faith, fear and hope; he complains and then comforts himself, yet drops his comforts and returns again to his complaints, as Ps. 42. But, as there, so here, faith gets the last word and comes off a conqueror; for in these verses he concludes with some comfort. And here are two things with which he comforts himself:-