Lamentations 3:31–33
Even in affliction, the poet recalls that God does not afflict from his heart
Study it word by word31For Adonai does not reject forever.
32For though he afflicts, he will also have compassion according to the abundance of his loyal loves.
33For he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the sons of man.
In its context
29Let him put his mouth in the dust; perhaps there is hope.
30Let him give to the one who strikes him his cheek; let him be filled with reproach.
…
34To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,
35to turn aside the right of a man before the face of Elyon,
Its words in the original
- יִזְנַחyiznach· reject
Reject, cast off, push someone away from oneself. Said of God when he puts away his people or a person, and of people when they reject something.
- עוֹלָםolam· forever, eternal
A very long time whose end cannot be seen: looking forward, "forever"; looking back, "of old", "ancient".
- אֲדֹנָadona· Adonai, Lord
"Adonai": "my Lord", said only to God. It is a title of respect that acknowledges his authority. It is not another god besides YHWH: often it goes with his name, "Adonai YHWH", Lord YHWH.
- הוֹגָהhoga· grieve, torment
To grieve, to cause sorrow, to afflict.
- רִחַםricham· have compassion
Have compassion: feel tenderness for someone, as a mother for her child, and treat him with mercy.
- רֹבrov· abundance
Abundance, great number; greatness.
- חֲסָדָיchasaday· loyal love
"Chesed": love that stays faithful to a commitment. It is kindness that does not remain a feeling: it acts in favor of the other and does not abandon him. The Bible says it above all of God's love for his people.
- עִנָּהina· afflict
Afflict, oppress, make suffer; in a reflexive form, humble oneself, submit.
- לִּבּlib· heart
Heart. In Hebrew it is not only the place of feelings: it is the center of the person, where one thinks, decides and wills; also the middle of something.
- בְנֵיvene· son
Son. In the plural it can include sons and daughters, and also grandsons and descendants. "Son of..." also says what group someone belongs to ("sons of Israel" = Israelites).
- אִישׁish· man, husband, each
Man, male; with a possessive, husband. Also "each one", "anyone". It is "ish", distinct from "adam" (human being); it is used for the man in contrast with the woman ("ishah").