Lamentations - Caput 3

Lamentations 3.1 ALEPH ego vir videns paupertatem meam in virga indignationis eius Lamentations 3.2 ALEPH me minavit et adduxit in tenebris et non in lucem Lamentations 3.3 ALEPH tantum in me vertit et convertit manum suam tota die Lamentations 3.4 BETH vetustam fecit pellem meam et carnem meam contrivit ossa mea Lamentations 3.5 BETH aedificavit in gyro meo et circumdedit me felle et labore Lamentations 3.6 BETH in tenebrosis conlocavit me quasi mortuos sempiternos Lamentations 3.7 GIMEL circumaedificavit adversum me ut non egrediar adgravavit conpedem meam Lamentations 3.8 GIMEL sed et cum clamavero et rogavero exclusit orationem meam Lamentations 3.9 GIMEL conclusit vias meas lapidibus quadris semitas meas subvertit Lamentations 3.10 DELETH ursus insidians factus est mihi leo in absconditis Lamentations 3.11 DELETH semitas meas subvertit et confregit me posuit me desolatam Lamentations 3.12 DELETH tetendit arcum suum et posuit me quasi signum ad sagittam Lamentations 3.13 HE misit in renibus meis filias faretrae suae Lamentations 3.14 HE factus sum in derisu omni populo meo canticum eorum tota die Lamentations 3.15 HE replevit me amaritudinibus inebriavit me absinthio Lamentations 3.16 VAV et fregit ad numerum dentes meos cibavit me cinere Lamentations 3.17 VAV et repulsa est anima mea oblitus sum bonorum Lamentations 3.18 VAV et dixi periit finis meus et spes mea a Domino Lamentations 3.19 ZAI recordare paupertatis et transgressionis meae absinthii et fellis Lamentations 3.20 ZAI memoria memor ero et tabescet in me anima mea Lamentations 3.21 ZAI hoc recolens in corde meo ideo sperabo Lamentations 3.22 HETH misericordiae Domini quia non sumus consumpti quia non defecerunt miserationes eius Lamentations 3.23 HETH novae diluculo multa est fides tua Lamentations 3.24 HETH pars mea Dominus dixit anima mea propterea expectabo eum Lamentations 3.25 TETH bonus est Dominus sperantibus in eum animae quaerenti illum Lamentations 3.26 TETH bonum est praestolari cum silentio salutare Domini Lamentations 3.27 TETH bonum est viro cum portaverit iugum ab adulescentia sua Lamentations 3.28 IOTH sedebit solitarius et tacebit quia levavit super se Lamentations 3.29 IOTH ponet in pulvere os suum si forte sit spes Lamentations 3.30 IOTH dabit percutienti se maxillam saturabitur obprobriis Lamentations 3.31 CAPH quia non repellet in sempiternum Dominus Lamentations 3.32 CAPH quia si abiecit et miserebitur secundum multitudinem misericordiarum suarum Lamentations 3.33 CAPH non enim humiliavit ex corde suo et abiecit filios hominis Lamentations 3.34 LAMED ut contereret sub pedibus suis omnes vinctos terrae Lamentations 3.35 LAMED ut declinaret iudicium viri in conspectu vultus Altissimi Lamentations 3.36 LAMED ut perverteret hominem in iudicio suo Dominus ignoravit Lamentations 3.37 MEM quis est iste qui dixit ut fieret Domino non iubente Lamentations 3.38 MEM ex ore Altissimi non egredientur nec mala nec bona Lamentations 3.39 MEM quid murmuravit homo vivens vir pro peccatis suis Lamentations 3.40 NUN scrutemur vias nostras et quaeramus et revertamur ad Dominum Lamentations 3.41 NUN levemus corda nostra cum manibus ad Dominum in caelos Lamentations 3.42 NUN nos inique egimus et ad iracundiam provocavimus idcirco tu inexorabilis es Lamentations 3.43 SAMECH operuisti in furore et percussisti nos occidisti nec pepercisti Lamentations 3.44 SAMECH opposuisti nubem tibi ne transeat oratio Lamentations 3.45 SAMECH eradicationem et abiectionem posuisti me in medio populorum Lamentations 3.46 FE aperuerunt super nos os suum omnes inimici Lamentations 3.47 FE formido et laqueus facta est nobis vaticinatio et contritio Lamentations 3.48 FE divisiones aquarum deduxit oculus meus in contritione filiae populi mei Lamentations 3.49 AIN oculus meus adflictus est nec tacuit eo quod non esset requies Lamentations 3.50 AIN donec respiceret et videret Dominus de caelis Lamentations 3.51 AIN oculus meus depraedatus est animam meam in cunctis filiabus urbis meae Lamentations 3.52 SADE venatione ceperunt me quasi avem inimici mei gratis Lamentations 3.53 SADE lapsa est in lacu vita mea et posuerunt lapidem super me Lamentations 3.54 SADE inundaverunt aquae super caput meum dixi perii Lamentations 3.55 COPH invocavi nomen tuum Domine de lacis novissimis Lamentations 3.56 COPH vocem meam audisti ne avertas aurem tuam a singultu meo et clamoribus Lamentations 3.57 COPH adpropinquasti in die quando invocavi te dixisti ne timeas Lamentations 3.58 RES iudicasti Domine causam animae meae redemptor vitae meae Lamentations 3.59 RES vidisti Domine iniquitatem adversum me iudica iudicium meum Lamentations 3.60 RES vidisti omnem furorem universas cogitationes eorum adversum me Lamentations 3.61 SEN audisti obprobria eorum Domine omnes cogitationes eorum adversum me Lamentations 3.62 SEN labia insurgentium mihi et meditationes eorum adversum me tota die Lamentations 3.63 SEN sessionem eorum et resurrectionem eorum vide ego sum psalmus eorum Lamentations 3.64 THAU reddes eis vicem Domine iuxta opera manuum suarum Lamentations 3.65 THAU dabis eis scutum cordis laborem tuum Lamentations 3.66 THAU persequeris in furore et conteres eos sub caelis Domine

Lamentations : Caput 3

Reflections on Lamentations 3

Chapter 3 of Lamentations marks a significant shift, moving from collective to individual lamentations. This shift in perspective raises a profound question: how does personal suffering reflect national anguish? This powerful text alternates between despair and hope, offering insight into the narrator's suffering while highlighting his renewed trust in God's mercy.

Central Themes

This chapter introduces crucial themes such as divine faithfulness, discipline, and the possibility of restoration. Lamentations 3 thus offers us a glimmer of hope in the midst of affliction. To deepen our reflection, let's consider five biblical passages that echo these themes of perseverance and faith.

Resonant Bible Passages

Job 30:26: "But while I waited for good, evil came upon me; while he waited for light, darkness came." This verse from Job reflects the despair and confusion expressed by the narrator in Lamentations 3.

Psalm 88:6-7: "You have set me in the lowest pit, in the deep darkness. Your anger is heavy upon me; with all your waves you have afflicted me." This psalm expresses feelings of abandonment and helplessness similar to those found in Lamentations 3.

Isaiah 54:7-8: "For a brief moment I forsook you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you, says the Lord your Redeemer." This passage offers hope in the midst of suffering, reflecting the shift in tone in the middle section of Lamentations 3.

Micah 7:7-9: "But I will wait for the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Do not exult over me, O my enemy; though I fall, I will rise again. Though I live in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the wrath of the Lord until he judges my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out into the light; I will see your righteousness." This passage from Micah expresses themes of hope and restoration in the midst of suffering, similar to those found in the central portion of Lamentations 3.

Hebrews 12:11: "No discipline seems to be a joy for the time being, but rather a sorrow. But then it produces the fruit of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." This New Testament verse offers a perspective on suffering that aligns with the reflections in Lamentations 3 on the purpose of affliction.

Conclusion

Through these passages, we are invited to meditate on the challenges of suffering and seek the light of faith. By relying on God's faithfulness, we find the strength to face our trials and hope for a future of restoration and peace.