Lamentations 3:31-33

Context

כ (Kaf)

3:31 For the Lord¹ will not

reject us forever.²

3:32 Though he causes us³ grief, he then has compassion on us⁴

according to the abundance of his loyal kindness.⁵

3:33 For he is not predisposed to afflict⁶

or to grieve people.⁷

[3:31] ¹tc The MT reads אֲדֹנָי (’adonay, “the Lord”) here rather than יהוה (YHWH, “the Lord”). See the tc note at 1:14.

[3:31] ²tn The verse is unusually short and something unrecoverable may be missing.

[3:32] ³tn Heb “Although he has caused grief.” The word “us” is added in the translation.

[3:32] ⁴tn Heb “He will have compassion.” The words “on us” are added in the translation.

[3:32] ⁵tc The Kethib preserves the singular form חַסְדּוֹ (khasdo, “his kindness”), also reflected in the LXX and Aramaic Targum. The Qere reads the plural form חֲסָדָיו (khasadayv, “his kindnesses”) which is reflected in the Latin Vulgate.

[3:33] ⁶tn Heb “he does not afflict from his heart.” The term לֵבָב (levav, “heart”) preceded by the preposition מִן (min) most often describes one’s initiative or motivation, e.g. “of one’s own accord” (Num. 16:28; 24:13; Deut. 4:9; 1Kings 12:33; Neh. 6:8; Job 8:10; Is. 59:13; Ezek. 13:2, 17). It is not God’s internal motivation to bring calamity and trouble upon people.

[3:33] ⁷tn Heb “sons of men.”