Lamentations 3:25–26

In the midst of lament, it is said to be good to wait quietly for YHWH's salvation

25Good is YHWH to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.

26Good it is that one should await, and silently, the salvation of YHWH.

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In its context

23They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

24My portion is YHWH, says my soul; therefore I will await him.

…

27Good it is for the man that he bear a yoke in his youth.

28Let him sit alone and be silent, because he has laid it on him.

Read all of Lamentations 3

Its words in the original

  • טוֹבtov· good

    Good in the widest sense: pleasant, beautiful, useful, right, of good quality. As a noun, "good", "good things", "well-being".

  • יְהוָהyehva· YHWH

    The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

  • קוָֹkvoa· gather; wait for

    Gather together, collect in one place (said of the waters). In other passages the same verb means "wait for" with hope.

  • נֶפֶשׁnefesh· soul, living being, life

    A breathing being, a living being. It is translated "living being" (people and animals), "life" (when living or dying is at stake), "person" (in counts and laws), "soul" (the person at the innermost: desires, joy, anguish) or "myself". In the Old Testament it names the whole living being, not only a part of it.

  • תִּדְרְשֶׁtidrshe· seek, inquire

    Seek earnestly; inquire; require an account. Turned toward God, consult him or seek him.

  • יָחִילyachil· waiting patiently

    Waiting with patience and expectation.

  • דוּמָםdumam· silently, in silence

    Silently, quietly, in stillness.

  • תְשׁוּעַתteshuat· deliverance, victory

    Deliverance, rescue from a danger; in war, victory.

Waiting on God