Lamentations 5:22

OLBHeb;

Our translators have here so rendered the particle yk that the words seem to express some diffidence in the prophet of God's mercy in restoring the people to their former state, some expressions of which nature we find falling from the most eminent servants of God in an hour of great temptation; but where such a sense is not necessary, it is hard to put it upon a text. Some therefore expound Ma yb in this place by But if. Others translate them, Although thou hast, &c. Mr. Calvin preferreth the translation of them by Nisi, Unless thou hast utterly rejected us, and thinks that by this expression the prophet confirmeth himself against temptations of diffidence, because it was impossible God should utterly cast off his people, Romans 11:2. Others read it interrogatively, Hast thou utterly rejected us ? which doth not suppose that the prophet believed he had, though his present providence showed him very angry with them.