Loading…

Lamentations 3:37–40

37  eWho has spoken and it came to pass,

unless the Lord has commanded it?

38  fIs it not from the mouth of the Most High

that good and bad come?

39  gWhy should a living man complain,

a man, about the punishment of his sins?

40  Let us test and examine our ways,

hand return to the Lord!

Read more Explain verse



Lamentations 3:37–40 — The New International Version (NIV)

37 Who can speak and have it happen

if the Lord has not decreed it?

38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High

that both calamities and good things come?

39 Why should the living complain

when punished for their sins?

40 Let us examine our ways and test them,

and let us return to the Lord.

Lamentations 3:37–40 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

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

40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.

Lamentations 3:37–40 — New Living Translation (NLT)

37 Who can command things to happen

without the Lord’s permission?

38 Does not the Most High

send both calamity and good?

39 Then why should we, mere humans, complain

when we are punished for our sins?

40 Instead, let us test and examine our ways.

Let us turn back to the Lord.

Lamentations 3:37–40 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

37 Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass,

When the Lord has not commanded it?

38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High

That woe and well-being proceed?

39 Why should a living man complain,

A man for the punishment of his sins?

40 Let us search out and examine our ways,

And turn back to the Lord;

Lamentations 3:37–40 — New Century Version (NCV)

37 Nobody can speak and have it happen

unless the Lord commands it.

38 Both bad and good things

come by the command of the Most High God.

39 No one should complain

when he is punished for his sins.

40 Let us examine and see what we have done

and then return to the Lord.

Lamentations 3:37–40 — American Standard Version (ASV)

37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? 38 Out of the mouth of the Most High cometh there not evil and good? 39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

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

Lamentations 3:37–40 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

37 Who is he that saith, and there cometh to pass, what the Lord hath not commanded? 38 Out of the mouth of the Most High doth not there proceed evil and good? 39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? 40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah.

Lamentations 3:37–40 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

37 Who was it who spoke and it came into being? 

It was the Lord who gave the order. 

38 Both good and bad come from the mouth of the Most High God. 

39 “Why should any living mortal (any person) 

complain about being punished for sin? 

40 Let us look closely at our ways and examine them 

and then return to the Lord

Lamentations 3:37–40 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

37 Who is there who speaks and it happens,

unless the Lord has ordained it?

38 Do not both adversity and good

come from the mouth of the Most High?

39 Why should any living person complain,

any man, because of the punishment for his sins?

40 Let us search out and examine our ways,

and turn back to the Lord.

Lamentations 3:37–40 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

37 Who can command and have it done,

if the Lord has not ordained it?

38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High

that good and bad come?

39 Why should any who draw breath complain

about the punishment of their sins?

40 Let us test and examine our ways,

and return to the Lord.

Lamentations 3:37–40 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

37 Who can speak and it will happen

if the Lord has not commanded it?

38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High

that disaster and good will come?

39 Why should any living person complain

about his sin?

40 Let us test and examine our ways;

let us return to Yahweh.

Lamentations 3:37–40 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

37 Suppose people order something to happen.

It won’t happen unless the Lord has planned it.

38 Troubles and good things alike come to people

because the Most High God has commanded them to come.

39 A man who is still alive shouldn’t blame God

when God punishes him for his sins.

40 Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living.

Let’s return to the Lord.

Lamentations 3:37–40 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

37 Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass,

Unless the Lord has commanded it?

38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High

That both good and ill go forth?

39 Why should any living mortal, or any man,

Offer complaint in view of his sins?

40 Let us examine and probe our ways,

And let us return to the Lord.


A service of Logos Bible Software