31 I am the man who has seen affliction Because of the rod of His wrath . 2 He has driven me and made me walk In darkness and not in light . 3 Surely against me He has turned His hand Repeatedly all the day . 4 He has caused my flesh and my skin to waste away , He has broken my bones . 5 He has besieged e and encompassed me with bitterness and hardship . 6 In dark places He has made me dwell , Like those who have long been dead . 7 He has walled me in so that I cannot go out; He has made my chain heavy . 8 Even when I cry out and call for help , He shuts out my prayer . 9 He has blocked my ways with hewn stone ; He has made my paths crooked . 10 He is to me like a bear lying in wait , Like a lion in secret places . 11 He has turned aside my ways and torn me to pieces ; He has made me desolate . 12 He bent His bow And set me as a target for the arrow . 13 He made the arrows of His quiver To enter into my inward parts . 14 I have become a laughingstock to all my people , Their mocking song all the day . 15 He has filled me with bitterness , He has made me drunk with wormwood . 16 He has broken my teeth with gravel ; He has made me cower in the dust . 17 My soul has been rejected from peace ; I have forgotten happiness . 18 So I say , "My strength has perished , And so has my hope from the Lord ." 19 Remember my affliction and my wandering , the wormwood and bitterness . 20 Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me.
21 This I recall to my mind , Therefore e I have hope . 22 The Lord'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease , For His compassions never fail . 23 They are new every morning ; Great is Your faithfulness . 24 "The Lord is my portion ," says my soul , "Therefore e I have hope in Him."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Lamentations 3:1-24
Commentary on Lamentations 3:1-20
(Read Lamentations 3:1-20)
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.
Commentary on Lamentations 3:21-36
(Read Lamentations 3:21-36)
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.