Lamentations 3

3. Surely against me is He turned, etc. The arrangement of the sentence should be, “Surely against me He turneth His hand (i.e., turneth it again and again)”: see R.V.

all the day. The French version has, “chaque jour de nouveau” (“each day afresh”).

5. He hath builded against me. As a besieger builds mounds to attack a city.

6. He hath set me, etc. A repetition of Psa. exliii. 3. “He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead,” R.V.

14. I was a derision. Rather, as R.V., “I am become a derision.”

16. He hath also broken my teeth, etc. i.e., with gritty bread.

19. Remembering mine affliction. Or, “Remember my affliction,” etc.

27 the yoke. That is, of chastisement.

28. He sitteth alone, etc. Rather, “Let him sit alone. . . . Let him put his mouth. . . . Let him give his cheek. . . . Let him be filled.”

He hath borne it upon him. Rather, “because He (God) hath laid it upon him.”

29. He putteth (“Let him put”) his mouth in the dust. The same spirit of humility is indicated in the following verse. Indignities from our fellowmen are patiently submitted to when we regard them as deserved Divine chastisements: see 2 Sam. xvii. 11.

40. Let us search and try our ways. Acceptable confession requires not only sincerity, but knowledge of our own hearts, as tested by God’s Word.

43. Thou hast covered. Probably, “Thou hast covered Thyself” (R.V. marg.): see next verse.

49 trickleth. Better, “poureth,” as R.V.

53 and cast a stone upon me. Closing my dungeon with a stone (see Dan. vi. 17).

54. Waters flowed over mine head. Figurative, for the extreme of misery.

63. I am their music. “I am their song,” R.V.: cp. Job xxx. 9. “I am the burden of their satire” (Moffatt).

64. Render unto them. The words in this and the two following verses should be rendered as future: “Thou wilt render . . . Thou wilt give . . . Thou wilt pursue”: see R.V.