Devine Scripture

Lamentations 3:18

What does Lamentations 3:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Lamentations 3:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Lamentations 3:18 means

He concludes that his strength has vanished and his expectation from Jehovah is gone. This is the brink of despair: not only have circumstances collapsed, but even trust in God seems extinguished. The verse gives voice to the deepest valley any believer faces under discipline. Yet it also uncovers the need for a truth that does not depend on felt strength. The chapter will soon show that when subjective hope dies, objective truths about Jehovah’s love and faithfulness can yet be recalled, and from that remembrance, hope can revive even before any outward change occurs.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And I said, My strength is perished, and mine expectation from Jehovah.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And I said, My strength is perished, and mine expectation from Jehovah.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And I said, My strength is cut off, and my hope from the Lord.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And I say, Perished hath my strength and my hope from Jehovah.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Vau. And I said: My end and my hope is perished from the Lord.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And I said, My strength is perished, and my hope in Jehovah.

Context

This is the low point of the opening lament. Verses 1–18 have inched toward this bleak conclusion, piling image upon image of affliction and silence. The very next verses (19–21) will mark a shift: first a plea for God to remember the suffering, then a confession that the soul remembers and is bowed down, and finally the decisive recollection that births hope. The contrast between this verse and verse 21 is central to the chapter’s message.

v.17And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace; I forgat prosperity.

v.18This passage

v.19Remember mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ezekiel 37:11

    Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.

  • 1 Samuel 27:1

    And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more in all the borders of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

  • Job 17:15

    Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?

  • Job 6:11

    What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient?

  • Psalms 116:11

    I said in my haste, All men are liars.

  • Psalms 31:22

    As for me, I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: Nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications, When I cried unto thee.

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