Devine Scripture

Lamentations 3:39

What does Lamentations 3:39 mean?

A plain-English look at Lamentations 3:39 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Lamentations 3:39 means

Given God’s sovereignty and justice, a living person should not complain about the punishment of his sins. Survival itself is mercy; therefore, the right response is repentance, not grumbling. The verse calls for self-awareness: affliction is not arbitrary. It directs the sufferer away from blaming God or others and instead toward acknowledging guilt and seeking grace. Complaining hardens the heart; confession opens it. This sober counsel turns the community from fruitless lament to fruitful lament—sorrow that leads to change and renewed fellowship with Jehovah.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

What protest may a living man make, even a man about the punishment of his sin?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

What--sigh habitually doth a living man, A man for his sin?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Mem. Why hath a living man murmured, man suffering for his sins?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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

Context

Having established God’s control over both calamity and blessing, the text draws a moral conclusion. Verses 40–41 will respond with a call to examine ways, return to Jehovah, and lift hearts and hands to Him in heaven. This marks a communal shift from individual lament to corporate repentance, an essential step toward restoration.

v.38Out of the mouth of the Most High cometh there not evil and good?

v.39This passage

v.40Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah.

Cross references

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

  • Micah 7:9

    I will bear the indignation of Jehovah, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.

  • Numbers 11:11

    And Moses said unto Jehovah, Wherefore hast thou dealt ill with thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

  • Leviticus 26:43

    The land also shall be left by them, and shall enjoy its sabbaths, while it lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity; because, even because they rejected mine ordinances, and their soul abhorred my statutes.

  • Jonah 2:3

    For thou didst cast me into the depth, in the heart of the seas, And the flood was round about me; All thy waves and thy billows passed over me.

  • Ezra 9:13

    And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such a remnant,

  • Proverbs 19:3

    The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.

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