EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Lamentations 3:38
38The Most High God causes all things to happen. He causes good things and bad things to happen when he speaks.
Lamentations 3:38 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
- New International Version (NIV)Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That woe and well-being proceed?
Context of Lamentations 3:38
36They may tell lies in court. The Lord is not happy when he sees any of those bad things. 37The Lord causes things to happen. Nobody can cause things to happen without him. The Most High God causes all things to happen. He causes good things and bad things to happen when he speaks. 39He only punishes us when we do wrong things. We are still alive, so we should not be angry with God. 40Instead, we should think a lot about what we do, and we should turn back to the Lord again.
Read all of Lamentations 3Lamentations 3:38 word by word
מִפִּ֤י עֶלְיוֹן֙ לֹ֣א תֵצֵ֔א הָרָע֖וֹת וְהַטּֽוֹב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Lamentations 3:38
- Job 2:10Job replied, ‘Do not talk like a fool! We take the good things that God gives us. So we should not be surprised if he sends us trouble as well.’ In all his trouble, Job never said any wrong things against God.
- Psalms 75:7God is the one who judges people. He decides who to bring down and who to lift up.
- Proverbs 29:26Many people want the king to be their friend. But only the Lord can give you true justice.
- Isaiah 45:7I make light and I also make darkness. I make peace as well as trouble. I am the Lord. I do all these things.
- Amos 3:6Also, if the people in a city hear a trumpet's sound, they become very afraid. If bad trouble comes to a city, it means that the Lord has sent it.
Commentaries on Lamentations 3:38
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 37-39Verses 37-39 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 37-41Verses 37-41 While there is life there is hope; and instead of complaining that things are bad, we should encourage ourselves with the hope they will be better. We are sinful men, and what we complain of, is far less than our sins deserve. We should complain to God, and not of him. We are apt, in times of calamity, to reflect on other people's ways, and blame them; but our duty is to search and try our own ways, that we may turn from evil to God. Our…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37-39Some disasters have natural causes (Luke 13:1–5). Bad things happen to both good and bad people (Matthew 5:45). No matter what happens, we should give thanks and not complain (1 Thessalonians 5:18).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 37-3937-39. Who is it that can (as God, Psa 33:9) effect by a word anything, without the will of God?Read the comment
Topics related to Lamentations 3:38
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Lamentations 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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