Lamentations 3:31–33

כ (Kaf)

3:31 For the Lord71 will not

reject us forever.72

3:32 Though he causes us73 grief, he then has compassion on us74

according to the abundance of his loyal kindness.75

3:33 For he is not predisposed to afflict76

or to grieve people.77

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71	tc The MT reads אֲדֹנָי (’adonay, “the Lord”) here rather than יהוה (YHWH, “the Lord”). See the tc note at 1:14.
72	tn The verse is unusually short and something unrecoverable may be missing.
73	tn Heb “Although he has caused grief.” The word “us” is added in the translation.
74	tn Heb “He will have compassion.” The words “on us” are added in the translation.
75	tc The Kethib preserves the singular form חַסְדּוֹ (khasdo, “his kindness”), also reflected in the LXX and Aramaic Targum. The Qere reads the plural form חֲסָדָיו (khasadayv, “his kindnesses”) which is reflected in the Latin Vulgate.
76	tn Heb “he does not afflict from his heart.” The term לֵבָב (levav, “heart”) preceded by the preposition מִן (min) most often describes one’s initiative or motivation, e.g. “of one’s own accord” (Num. 16:28; 24:13; Deut. 4:9; 1 Kings 12:33; Neh. 6:8; Job 8:10; Is. 59:13; Ezek. 13:2, 17). It is not God’s internal motivation to bring calamity and trouble upon people.
77	tn Heb “sons of men.”