1Já jsem muž okoušející trápení od metly rozhněvání Božího. 2Zahnal mne, a uvedl do tmy a ne k světlu. 3Toliko proti mně se postavuje, a obrací ruku svou přes celý den. 4Uvedl sešlost na tělo mé a kůži mou, a polámal kosti mé. 5Zastavěl mne a obklíčil přeodpornou hořkostí. 6Postavil mne v tmavých místech jako ty, kteříž již dávno zemřeli. 7Ohradil mne, abych nevyšel; obtížil ocelivý řetěz můj. 8A jakžkoli volám a křičím, zacpává uši před mou modlitbou. 9Ohradil cesty mé tesaným kamenem, a stezky mé zmátl. 10Jest nedvěd číhající na mne, lev v skrejších. 11Cesty mé stočil, anobrž roztrhal mne, a na to mne přivedl, abych byl pustý. 12Natáhl lučiště své, a vystavil mne za cíl střelám. 13Postřelil ledví má střelami toulu svého. 14Jsem v posměchu se vším lidem svým, a písničkou jejich přes celý den. 15Sytí mne hořkostmi, opojuje mne pelynkem. 16Nadto potřel o kameníčko zuby mé, vrazil mne do popela. 17Tak jsi vzdálil, ó Bože, duši mou od pokoje, až zapomínám na pohodlí, 18A říkám: Zahynulatě síla má i naděje má, kterouž jsem měl v Hospodinu. 19A však duše má rozvažujíc trápení svá a pláč svůj, pelynek a žluč, 20Rozvažujíc to ustavičně, ponižuje se ve mně. 21A přivodě sobě to ku paměti, (naději mám), 22Že veliké jest milosrdenství Hospodinovo, když jsme do konce nevyhynuli. Nepřestávajíť zajisté slitování jeho, 23Ale nová jsou každého jitra; převeliká jest pravda tvá. 24Díl můj jest Hospodin, říká duše má; protož naději mám v něm. 25Dobrý jest Hospodin těm, jenž očekávají na něj, duši té, kteráž ho hledá. 26Dobré jest trpělivě očekávajícímu na spasení Hospodinovo. 27Dobré jest muži tomu, kterýž by nosil jho od dětinství svého, 28Kterýž by pak byl opuštěn, trpělivě se má v tom, což na něj vloženo, 29Dávaje do prachu ústa svá, až by se ukázala naděje, 30Nastavuje líce tomu, kdož jej bije, a sytě se potupou. 31Neboť nezamítá Pán na věčnost; 32Nýbrž ačkoli zarmucuje, však slitovává se podlé množství milosrdenství svého. 33Netrápíť zajisté z srdce svého, aniž zarmucuje synů lidských. 34Aby kdo potíral nohama svýma všecky vězně v zemi, 35Aby nespravedlivě soudil muže před oblíčejem Nejvyššího, 36Aby převracel člověka v při jeho, Pán nelibuje. 37Kdo jest, ješto když řekl, stalo se něco, a Pán nepřikázal? 38Z úst Nejvyššího zdali nepochází zlé i dobré? 39Proč by tedy sobě stýskal člověk živý, muž nad kázní za hříchy své? 40Zpytujme raději a ohledujme cest našich, a navraťme se až k Hospodinu. 41Pozdvihujme srdcí i rukou svých k Bohu silnému v nebe. 42Myť jsme se zpronevěřili, a zpurní jsme byli, protož ty neodpouštíš. 43Obestřels se hněvem a stiháš nás, morduješ a nešanuješ. 44Obestřels se oblakem, aby nemohla proniknouti k tobě modlitba. 45Za smeti a povrhel položil jsi nás u prostřed národů těchto. 46Rozdírají na nás ústa svá všickni nepřátelé naši. 47Strach a jáma potkala nás, zpuštění a setření. 48Potokové vod tekou z očí mých pro potření dcery lidu mého. 49Oči mé slzí bez přestání, proto že není žádného odtušení, 50Ažby popatřil a shlédl Hospodin s nebe. 51Oči mé rmoutí duši mou pro všecky dcery města mého. 52Loviliť jsou mne ustavičně, jako ptáče, nepřátelé moji bez příčiny. 53Uvrhli do jámy život můj, a přimetali mne kamením. 54Rozvodnily se vody nad hlavou mou, řekl jsem: Jižtě po mně. 55Vzývám jméno tvé, ó Hospodine, z jámy nejhlubší. 56Hlas můj vyslýchával jsi; nezacpávejž ucha svého před vzdycháním mým a voláním mým. 57V ten den, v němž jsem tě vzýval, přicházeje, říkávals: Neboj se. 58Pane, zasazuje se o při duše mé, vysvobozoval jsi život můj. 59Vidíš, ó Hospodine, převrácenost, kteráž se mně děje, dopomoziž mi k spravedlnosti. 60Vidíš všecko vymstívání se jejich, všecky úklady jejich proti mně. 61Slýcháš utrhání jejich, ó Hospodine, i všecky obmysly jejich proti mně, 62Řeči povstávajících proti mně, a přemyšlování jejich proti mně přes celý den. 63Pohleď, jak při sedání jejich i povstání jejich jsem písničkou jejich. 64Dej jim odplatu, Hospodine, podlé díla rukou jejich. 65Dej jim zatvrdilé srdce a prokletí své na ně. 66Stihej v prchlivosti, a vyhlaď je, ať nejsou pod nebem tvým.
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.