1«Ich bin der Mann, der Elends sich ersättigt vom Stab seines Zorns. 2Mich trieb er, ließ mich gehn im Dunkel, ohne Licht; 3auf mich nur kehrt er wieder die Hand alletag. 4Zerstört hat er mir Fleisch und Haut zerschlagen mein Gebein; 5umbaut mich, rings umstellt zu Haupt und zu Ferse; 6in Finsternis mich weilen lassen wie Tote der Verborgenheit. 7Umbaut mich, daß ich nicht fort kann beschwert meine Ketten 8und schrei ich auch und flehe verschlossen meinem Beten 9verbaut mit Quadern meine Wege meine Pfade verkehrt. 10Ein Bär, der lauert, ist er mir ein Leu im Versteck. 11Meine Wege umdornt' er und zerriß mich macht' mich erstarren. 12Er spannte seinen Bogen und stellt' mich als Ziel dem Pfeil. 13Er jagte mir in die Nieren seines Köchers Kinder. 14Zum Hohn bin allem Volk ich worden ihr Spottlied allezeit. 15Er sättigte mich mit Bitternissen tränkt' mich mit Fluchtrank. 16Macht' ausbeißen, leergeputzt, meine Zähne trat mich in Asche; 17dem Heil entsagte meine Seele hab vergessen des Glücks. 18Ich sagte: ,Hin ist mein Hoffen und mein Erharrtes von dem Ewigen.' 19Gedenk mein Elend, meine Qual Fluchkraut und Gift! 20Des denket und sinkt an mir meine Seele. 21Dies kehr ich mir zu Herzen drum kann ich hoffen: 22Des Ewigen Liebe, daß sie nicht dahin daß nicht zuende sein Erbarmen 23erneut mit jedem Morgen groß deine Treue! 24,Mein Anteil ist der Ewge' spricht meine Seele ,drum harr ich sein.' 25Des Ewgen Glück ist deren, die sein Harren der Seele, die ihn sucht 26Glück, daß man stille harre der Hilfe des Ewgen 27Glück für den Mann, da er getragen ein Joch in seiner Jugend: 28Er sitzt einsam und schweigt da er es ihm auflegt 29er tut in den Staub den Mund vielleicht ist Hoffnung. 30Er bietet dem Schläger die Wange ersattet der Schmach. 31Denn nicht verwirft auf immer der Herr. 32Denn kränkt er, erbarmt es ihn weil reich seine Liebe. 33Ja, nicht aus seinem Herzen quält er und kränkt die Menschenkinder. 34Daß unter seinen Füßen man zermalmt all des Landes Gefangne 35daß Mannes Recht man beugt kommt vor des Höchsten Antlitz; 36daß Menschen man im Rechtsstreit krümmt - der Herr, sieht ers nicht? 37Wer ist, der sprach, daß es so ward wo der Herr nicht geboten? 38Kommt aus des Höchsten Mund nicht das Böse und Gute? 39Worüber klagt der Mensch, der lebt der Mann mit seinen Sünden? 40Laßt unsern Wandel prüfen und ergründen und zu dem Ewgen wiederkehren! 41Laßt mit den Händen uns das Herz erheben zu Gott im Himmel: 42Wir frevelten und trotzten du hast nicht verziehn. 43In Zorn verhüllt, hast du uns nachgesetzt erschlagen ohn Erbarmen. 44Hast in die Wolke dich verhüllt daß kein Gebet hindurchdrang. 45Zum Kehricht und zum Abscheu uns gemacht inmitten der Völker. 46Den Mund rissen auf wider uns all unsere Feinde. 47Da ward uns Graun und Grube Verstörung und Sturz. 48In Bächen Wassers strömt mein Auge beim Sturz der Tochter meines Volkes. 49Mein Auge rinnt und ruht nicht sich nie erschöpfend 50bis niederschaut und sieht der Ewige vom Himmel. 51Mein Aug tats an meiner Seele ob aller Töchter meiner Stadt. 52Sie fingen mich wie einen Vogel die grundlos mir feind 53sie tilgten in der Grube mein Leben und warfen Steine auf mich 54es strömten Wasser um mein Haupt ich dachte: Ich vergehe. 55Da rief ich deinen Namen, Ewiger aus der Grube tiefunten 56du hörtest meinen Ruf: ,Verschließ dein Ohr nicht zu helfen meinem Schrei!' 57Nah warst du an dem Tag, da ich dich rief sprachst: ,Fürchte nicht!' 58Du strittest, Herr, mir meiner Seele Streite erlöstest mein Leben. 59Du sahst, o Ewger, meine Unbill o, richte mir Recht! 60Du sahst all ihre Rachgier allwas sie trachten wider mich! 61Du hörtest, Ewiger, ihr Schmähen allwas sie trachten gegen mich 62was meiner Gegner Lippen raunen wider mich allezeit! 63Ihr sitzen und ihr Stehen, schau es ich bin ihr Spottlied. 64Zahl ihnen Lohn, o Ewger nach dem Tun ihrer Hände! 65Gib, daß umsonst ihr Sinnen! Dein Fluch für sie! 66Jag nach im Grimm und tilge sie unter des Ewigen Himmel!»
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 (Lam. 3:1-66)
seen affliction--his own in the dungeon of Malchiah (
Jer 38:6); that of his countrymen also in the siege. Both were types of that of Christ.
2 darkness--calamity.
light--prosperity.
3 turneth . . . hand--to inflict again and again new strokes. "His hand," which once used to protect me. "Turned . . . turneth" implies repeated inflictions.
4 (
Job 16:8).
5 builded--mounds, as against a besieged city, so as to allow none to escape (so
Lam 3:7,
Lam 3:9).
6 set me--HENDERSON refers this to the custom of placing the dead in a sitting posture.
dark places--sepulchers. As those "dead long since"; so Jeremiah and his people are consigned to oblivion (
Ps 88:5-
Ps 88:6;
Ps 143:3;
Ezek 37:13).
7 hedged-- (
Job 3:23;
Hos 2:6).
chain--literally, "chain of brass."
8 shutteth out--image from a door shutting out any entrance (
Job 30:20). So the antitype. Christ (
Ps 22:2).
9 hewn stone--which coheres so closely as not to admit of being broken through.
paths crooked--thwarted our plans and efforts so that none went right.
10 (
Job 10:16;
Hos 13:7-
Hos 13:8).
11 turned aside--made me wander out of the right way, so as to become a prey to wild beasts.
pulled in pieces-- (
Hos 6:1), as a "bear" or a "lion" (
Lam 3:10).
12 (
Job 7:20).
13 arrows--literally, "sons" of His quiver (compare
Job 6:4).
14 (
Jer 20:7).
their song-- (
Ps 69:12). Jeremiah herein was a type of Messiah. "All my people" (
John 1:11).
15 wormwood-- (
Jer 9:15). There it is regarded as food, namely, the leaves: here as drink, namely, the juice.
16 gravel--referring to the grit that often mixes with bread baked in ashes, as is the custom of baking in the East (
Pro 20:17). We fare as hardly as those who eat such bread. The same allusion is in "Covered me with ashes," namely, as bread.
17 Not only present, but all hope of future prosperity is removed; so much so, that I am as one who never was prosperous ("I forgat prosperity").
18 from the Lord--that is, my hope derived from Him (
Ps 31:22).
19 This gives the reason why he gave way to the temptation to despair. The Margin, "Remember" does not suit the sense so well.
wormwood . . . gall-- (
Jer 9:15).
20 As often as my soul calls them to remembrance, it is humbled or bowed down in me.
21 This--namely, what follows; the view of the divine character (
Lam 3:22-
Lam 3:23). CALVIN makes "this" refer to Jeremiah's infirmity. His very weakness (
Lam 3:19-
Lam 3:20) gives him hope of God interposing His strength for him (compare
Ps 25:11,
Ps 25:17;
Ps 42:5,
Ps 42:8;
2Cor 12:9-10).
22 (
Mal 3:6).
23 (
Isa 33:2).
24 (
Num 18:20;
Ps 16:5;
Ps 73:26;
Ps 119:57;
Jer 10:16). To have God for our portion is the one only foundation of hope.
25 The repetition of "good" at the beginning of each of the three verses heightens the effect.
wait-- (
Isa 30:18).
26 quietly wait--literally, "be in silence." Compare
Lam 3:28 and
Ps 39:2,
Ps 39:9, that is, to be patiently quiet under afflictions, resting in the will of God (
Ps 37:7). So Aaron (
Lev 10:2-
Lev 10:3); and Job (
Job 40:4-
Job 40:5).
27 yoke--of the Lord's disciplinary teaching (
Ps 90:12;
Ps 119:71). CALVIN interprets it, The Lord's doctrine (
Matt 11:29-
Matt 11:30), which is to be received in a docile spirit. The earlier the better; for the old are full of prejudices (
Pro 8:17;
Eccl 12:1). Jeremiah himself received the yoke, both of doctrine and chastisement in his youth (
Jer 1:6-
Jer 1:7).
28 The fruit of true docility and patience. He does not fight against the yoke (
Jer 31:18;
Acts 9:5), but accommodates himself to it.
alone--The heathen applauded magnanimity, but they looked to display and the praise of men. The child of God, in the absence of any witness, "alone," silently submits to the will of God.
borne it upon him--that is, because he is used to bearing it on him. Rather, "because He (the Lord,
Lam 3:26) hath laid it on him" [VATABLUS].
29 (
Job 42:6). The mouth in the dust is the attitude of suppliant and humble submission to God's dealings as righteous and loving in design (compare
Ezra 9:6;
1Cor 14:25).
if so be there may be hope--This does not express doubt as to whether GOD be willing to receive the penitent, but the penitent's doubt as to himself; he whispers to himself this consolation, "Perhaps there may be hope for me."
30 Messiah, the Antitype, fulfilled this; His practice agreeing with His precept (
Isa 50:6;
Matt 5:39). Many take patiently afflictions from God, but when man wrongs them, they take it impatiently. The godly bear resignedly the latter, like the former, as sent by God (
Ps 17:13).
31 True repentance is never without hope (
Ps 94:14).
32 The punishments of the godly are but for a time.
33 He does not afflict any willingly (literally, "from His heart," that is, as if He had any pleasure in it,
Ezek 33:11), much less the godly (
Heb 12:10).
34 This triplet has an infinitive in the beginning of each verse, the governing finite verb being in the end of
Lam 3:36, "the Lord approveth not," which is to be repeated in each verse. Jeremiah here anticipates and answers the objections which the Jews might start, that it was by His connivance they were "crushed under the feet" of those who "turned aside the right of a man." God approves (literally, "seeth,"
Hab 1:13; so "behold," "look on," that is, look on with approval) not of such unrighteous acts; and so the Jews may look for deliverance and the punishment of their foes.
35 before . . . face of . . . most High--Any "turning aside" of justice in court is done before the face of God, who Is present, and "regardeth," though unseen (
Eccl 5:8).
36 subvert--to wrong.
37 Who is it that can (as God,
Ps 33:9) effect by a word anything, without the will of God?
38 evil . . . good--Calamity and prosperity alike proceed from God (
Job 2:10;
Isa 45:7;
Amos 3:6).
39 living--and so having a time yet given him by God for repentance. If sin were punished as it deserves, life itself would be forfeited by the sinner. "Complaining" (murmuring) ill becomes him who enjoys such a favor as life (
Pro 19:3).
for the punishment of his sins--Instead of blaming God for his sufferings, he ought to recognize in them God's righteousness and the just rewards of his own sin.
40 us--Jeremiah and his fellow countrymen in their calamity.
search--as opposed to the torpor wherewith men rest only on their outward sufferings, without attending to the cause of them (
Ps 139:23-
Ps 139:24).
41 heart with . . . hands--the antidote to hypocrisy (
Ps 86:4;
1Tim 2:8).
42 not pardoned--The Babylonian captivity had not yet ended.
43 covered--namely, thyself (so
Lam 3:44), so as not to see and pity our calamities, for even the most cruel in seeing a sad spectacle are moved to pity. Compare as to God "hiding His face,"
Ps 10:11;
Ps 22:25.
44 (
Lam 3:8). The "cloud" is our sins, and God's wrath because of them (
Isa 44:22;
Isa 59:2).
45 So the apostles were treated; but, instead of murmuring, they rejoiced at it (
1Cor 4:13).
46 Pe is put before Ain (
Lam 3:43,
Lam 3:46), as in
Lam 2:16-
Lam 2:17;
Lam 4:16-
Lam 4:17. (
Lam 2:16.)
47 Like animals fleeing in fear, we fall into the snare laid for us.
48 (
Jer 4:19).
49 without . . . intermission--or else, "because there is no intermission" [PISCATOR], namely, Of my miseries.
50 Till--His prayer is not without hope, wherein it differs from the blind grief of unbelievers.
look down, &c.-- (
Isa 63:15).
51 eye affecteth mine heart--that is, causeth me grief with continual tears; or, "affecteth my life" (literally, "soul," Margin), that is, my health [GROTIUS].
daughters of . . . city--the towns around, dependencies of Jerusalem, taken by the foe.
52 a bird--which is destitute of counsel and strength. The allusion seems to be to
Pro 1:17 [CALVIN].
without cause-- (
Ps 69:4;
Ps 109:3-
Ps 109:4). Type of Messiah (
John 15:25).
53 in . . . dungeon-- (
Jer 37:16).
stone--usually put at the mouth of a dungeon to secure the prisoners (
Josh 10:18;
Dan 6:17;
Matt 27:60).
54 Waters--not literally, for there was "no water" (
Jer 38:6) in the place of Jeremiah's confinement, but emblematical of overwhelming calamities (
Ps 69:2;
Ps 124:4-
Ps 124:5).
cut off-- (
Isa 38:10-
Isa 38:11). I am abandoned by God. He speaks according to carnal sense.
55 I called out of dungeon--Thus the spirit resists the flesh, and faith spurns the temptation [CALVIN], (
Ps 130:1;
Jonah 2:2).
56 Thou hast heard--namely formerly (so in
Lam 3:57-
Lam 3:58).
breathing . . . cry--two kinds of prayer; the sigh of a prayer silently breathed forth, and the loud, earnest cry (compare "prayer," "secret speech,"
Isa 26:16, Margin; with "cry aloud,"
Ps 55:17).
57 Thou drewest near--with Thy help (
Jas 4:8).
58 Jeremiah cites God's gracious answers to his prayers as an encouragement to his fellow countrymen, to trust in Him.
pleaded-- (
Ps 35:1;
Mic 7:9).
59 God's past deliverances and His knowledge of Judah's wrongs are made the grounds of prayer for relief.
60 imaginations--devices (
Jer 11:19).
Their vengeance--means their malice. Jeremiah gives his conduct, when plotted against by his foes, as an example how the Jews should bring their wrongs at the hands of the Chaldeans before God.
61 their reproach--their reproachful language against me.
62 lips--speeches.
63 sitting down . . . rising up--whether they sit or rise, that is, whether they be actively engaged or sedentary, and at rest "all the day" (
Lam 3:62), I am the subject of their derisive songs (
Lam 3:14).
64 (
Jer 11:20;
2Tim 4:14).
65 sorrow--rather, blindness or hardness; literally, "a veil" covering their heart, so that they may rush on to their own ruin (
Isa 6:10;
2Cor 3:14-15).
66 from under . . . heavens of . . . Lord--destroy them so that it may be seen everywhere under heaven that thou sittest above as Judge of the world.