La 3:1
3:1 I [am] the man [that] hath seen {a} affliction by the rod of
    his wrath.

    (a) The prophet complains of the punishments and afflictions
        that he endured by the false prophets and hypocrites
        when he declared the destruction of Jerusalem, as in
        Jer 20:1,2.

La 3:5
3:5 He hath {b} built against me, and surrounded [me] with gall
    and labour.

    (b) He speaks this as one that felt God's heavy judgment,
        which he greatly feared, and therefore sets them out
        with this diversity of words.

La 3:8
3:8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my {c} prayer.

    (c) This is a great temptation for the godly when they do
        not see the fruit of their prayers and causes them to
        think that they are not heard, which thing God uses so
        that they might pray more earnestly and often.

La 3:9
3:9 He hath {d} inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made
    my paths crooked.

    (d) And keeps me in hold as a prisoner.

La 3:10
3:10 {e} He [was] to me [as] a bear lying in wait, [and as] a
     lion in secret places.

     (e) He has no pity on me.

La 3:15
3:15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunk
     with {f} wormwood.

     (f) With great anguish and sorrow he has made me lose my
         sense.

La 3:18
3:18 And I said, My strength and my {g} hope hath perished from
     the LORD:

     (g) Thus with pain he was driven to and fro between hope
         and despair, as the godly often are, yet in the end the
         spirit gets the victory.

La 3:20
3:20 My soul hath [them] still in remembrance, and is humbled
     {h} in me.

     (h) He shows that God thus uses to exercise his, to the
         intent that by this they may know themselves, and feel
         his mercies.

La 3:22
3:22 [It is of] the LORD'S {i} mercies that we are not consumed,
     because his compassions fail not.

     (i) Considering the wickedness of man it is a marvel that
         any remains alive: but only that God for his own
         mercies sake and for his promise will ever have his
         Church remain, though they are never so few in number,
         Isa 1:9.

La 3:23
3:23 [They are] new {k} every morning: great [is] thy
     faithfulness.

     (k) We feel your benefits daily.

La 3:24
3:24 The LORD [is] my {l} portion, saith my soul; therefore will
     I hope in him.

     (l) The godly put their whole confidence in God, and
         therefore look for no other inheritance, as
         Ps 16:5.

La 3:27
3:27 [It is] good for a man that he should bear the yoke in his
     {m} youth.

     (m) He shows that we can never begin too soon to be
         exercised under the cross, that when the afflictions
         grow greater, our patience also by experience may be
         stronger.

La 3:28
3:28 He sitteth alone {n} and keepeth silence, because he hath
     borne [it] upon him.

     (n) He murmurs not against God, but is patient.

La 3:29
3:29 He putteth his {o} mouth in the dust; if there may be hope.

     (o) He humbles himself as they who fall down with their
         face to the ground, and so with patience waits for
         comfort.

La 3:33
3:33 For he doth not {p} afflict willingly nor grieve the
     children of men.

     (p) He takes no pleasure in it, but does it of necessity for
         our amendment, when he permits the wicked to oppress
         the poor.

La 3:36
3:36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord {q} approveth not.

     (q) He does not delight in it.

La 3:37
3:37 Who [is] he [that] saith, and it cometh to pass, [when] the
     Lord {r} commandeth [it] not?

     (r) He shows that nothing is done without God's providence.

La 3:38
3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not {s} evil
     and good?

     (s) That is, adversity and prosperity, Am 3:6.

La 3:39
3:39 Why doth a living {t} man complain, a man for the
     punishment of his sins?

     (t) When God afflicts him.

La 3:41
3:41 Let us lift up {u} our heart with [our] hands to God in the
     heavens.

     (u) That is, both hearts and hands: for else to lift up the
         hands is but hypocrisy.

La 3:51
3:51 My eye {x} affecteth my heart because of all the daughters
     of my city.

     (x) I am overcome with sore weeping for all my people.

La 3:53
3:53 They have cut off my life {y} in the dungeon, and cast a
     stone upon me.

     (y) Read Jer 37:16 how he was in the miry dungeon.

La 3:58
3:58 O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my {z} soul; thou
     hast redeemed my life.

     (z) Meaning, the reason his life was in danger.