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Lamentations 3:37–39

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?

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Lamentations 3:37–39 — 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?

Lamentations 3:37–39 — 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?

Lamentations 3:37–39 — 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?

Lamentations 3:37–39 — 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?

Lamentations 3:37–39 — 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.

Lamentations 3:37–39 — 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?

Lamentations 3:37–39 — 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?

Lamentations 3:37–39 — 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? 

Lamentations 3:37–39 — 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?

Lamentations 3:37–39 — 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?

Lamentations 3:37–39 — 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?

Lamentations 3:37–39 — 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.

Lamentations 3:37–39 — 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?


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