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Thou hast seen - all their imaginations - Every thing is open to the eye of God. Distressed soul! though thou knowest not what thy enemies meditate against thee; yet he who loves thee does, and will infallibly defeat all their plots, and save thee.

Verses 55-66

A prayer for deliverance and for vengeance upon his enemies.

Lamentations 3:55

Out of the low dungeon - “The lowest pit” of Psalm 88:6. Some consider that Jeremiah 38:6 note).

Lamentations 3:56

Thou hast heard - In sending Ebedmelech to deliver me. The next clause signifies “Hide not thine ear to my relief to my cry,” i. e. to my cry for relief.

Lamentations 3:58

God now appears as the prophet‘s next of kin, pleading the lawsuits of his soul, i. e. the controversies which concern his salvation. and rescuing his life, in jeopardy through the malice of his enemies.

Lamentations 3:59

Wrong - Done to him by the perversion of justice.

Lamentations 3:60, Lamentations 3:61

Imaginations - Or, devices.

Lamentations 3:63

Their sitting down, and their rising up - i. e. all the ordinary actions of their life.

Musick - Or, song, “the subject of it.”

Lamentations 3:64-66

The versions render the verbs in these verses as futures, “Thou shalt render unto them a recompence,” etc.

Lamentations 3:65

Give them sorrow of heart - Or, “Thou wilt give them” blindness “of heart.”

Lamentations 3:66

Persecute … - Or, pursue them in anger and destroy them, etc.

Faith comes off conqueror, for in these verses the prophet concludes with some comfort. Prayer is the breath of the new man, drawing in the air of mercy in petitions, and returning it in praises; it proves and maintains the spiritual life. He silenced their fears, and quieted their spirits. Thou saidst, Fear not. This was the language of God's grace, by the witness of his Spirit with their spirits. And what are all our sorrows, compared with those of the Redeemer? He will deliver his people from every trouble, and revive his church from every persecution. He will save believers with everlasting salvation, while his enemies perish with everlasting destruction.