Lamentations 3:37 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Bible Comments

Why then does a loving God, who disapproves of suffering when inflicted by man upon man, Himself send sorrow and misery? “Because of sins.”

Lamentations 3:37

Literally, “Who is this that spake and it was done, though אדני 'ădonāy commanded it not?”

Lamentations 3:39

So long as God spares a man’s life, why does he complain? The chastisement is really for his good; only let him use it aright, and he will be thankful for it in the end.

A man for the punishment of his sins - Translate: Let “each man sigh for,” i. e. because of, “his sins.” Instead of complaining because God sends him sorrow, let him rather mourn over the sins which have made punishment necessary. The sense of the King James Version is, Why does a man ... complain “for his sins?” i. e. for the necessary results of them in chastisement.

Lamentations 3:37-39

37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

39 Wherefore doth a living man complain,k a man for the punishment of his sins?