Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Lamentations 3:64
Render unto them a recompense, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.
64 66. For the anticipation of punishment here expressed see on Jer 18:23; C.B. (Kirkpatrick) on Psa 28:4.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
These three last verses are all but the same general petition, though expressed in various phrases; the prophet had prayed, Lam 3:59, that God would judge his peoples cause, here he prayeth that he would also judge his enemies, he only desireth justice against them, a recompence of the work of their hands.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
64-66. (Jer 11:20;2Ti 4:14).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Render unto them a recompence, O Lord, according to the work of their hands. The Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions render this, and the following verses, not as petitions, but as prophecies of what should be; but they seem rather to be expressed by way of request; and here, that God would deal with them according to the law of retaliation, and requite them according to what they had done; that he would do to them as they had done to the Lord’s people, and others; and this is ordered to be done particularly to the Chaldeans, or Babylonians,
Jer 50:15.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He adds here a conclusion; for he has hitherto been relating, as I have said, the evils which he suffered, and also the reproaches and unjust oppressions, in order that; he might have God propitious to him; for this is the way of conciliating favor when we are wrongfully dealt with; for it cannot be but that God will sustain our cause. He indeed testifies that he is ready to help the miserable; it is his own peculiar work to deliver captives from prison, to illuminate the blind, to succor the miserable and the oppressed. This is the reason, then, why the Prophet now confidently asks God to render to his enemies their reward, according to the work of their hands
Were any one to object, and say, that another rule is prescribed to us, even to pray for our enemies, even when they oppress us; the answer is this, that the faithful, when they prayed thus, did not bring any violent feelings of their own, but pure zeal, and rightly formed; for the Prophet here did not pray for evil indiscriminately on all, but on the reprobate, who were perpetually the enemies of God and of his Church. He might then with sincerity of heart have asked God to render to them their just reward. And whenever the saints broke forth thus against their enemies, and asked God to become an avenger, this principle must be ever borne in mind, that they did not indulge their own wishes, but were so guided by the Holy Spirit — that moderation was connected with that fervid zeal to which I have referred. The Prophet, then, as he speaks here of the Chaldeans, confidently asked God to destroy them, as we shall again presently see. We find also in the Psalms the same imprecations, especially on Babylon, — “Happy he who shall render to thee what thou hast brought on us, who shall dash thy children against a stone.” (Psa 137:8.) It follows, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(64) Render unto them . . .The words are noticeable as being taken from Psa. 28:4, and reproduced by St. Paul in 2Ti. 4:14.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Lam 3:64 Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.
Ver. 64. Render unto them a recompense. ] Call them to an account, and requite them. Let their music be marred, and the meal once ended, send them in a reckoning.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 28:4, Jer 11:20, Jer 50:29, 2Ti 4:14, Rev 6:10, Rev 18:6
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lam 3:64, The Lord was always displeased when a heathen nation rejoiced over the misfortunes of His people. The Babylonians were serving a divine purpose by holding the Jews in captivity, but they were destined to feel the sting of God’s vengeance.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Lam 3:64-66. Render to them a recompense, &c. See note on Jer 11:20. The verbs in these verses are not in the imperative mood, but all in the future tense, and certainly should have been so rendered, as indeed they are by the LXX., . , . Thou wilt render unto them a recompense, O Lord Thou wilt render unto them the grief of my heart. Thou wilt persecute them in wrath, and destroy them from under the heaven, O Lord. Thus also the Vulgate, Blaney, and many others.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jeremiah believed that the Lord would pay his enemies back as they deserved (cf. Psa 28:4; 2Co 3:17). He would harden their hearts and so bring judgment on them.