Lamentations 3:40
New International Version
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.

New Living Translation
Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the LORD.

English Standard Version
Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!

Berean Standard Bible
Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD.

King James Bible
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

New King James Version
Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the LORD;

New American Standard Bible
Let’s examine and search out our ways, And let’s return to the LORD.

NASB 1995
Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the LORD.

NASB 1977
Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
Let us search out and examine our ways, And let us return to Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
Let us test and examine our ways, And let us return to the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
Let’s examine and probe our ways, and turn back to the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD.

American Standard Version
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
Instead, we should think about the way we are living, and turn back to the LORD.

English Revised Version
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Let us look closely at our ways and examine them and then return to the LORD.

Good News Translation
Let us examine our ways and turn back to the LORD.

International Standard Version
Let us examine our lifestyles, putting them to the test, and turn back to the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD.

NET Bible
Let us carefully examine our ways, and let us return to the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
Let us examine and search our ways, and return to the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

World English Bible
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
We search our ways, and investigate, "" And turn back to YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
We search our ways, and investigate, And turn back unto Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
We will search out our ways, and examine and turn back even to Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Nun. Let us search our ways, and seek, and return to the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
NUN. Let us examine our ways, and seek out, and return to the Lord.

New American Bible
Let us search and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!

New Revised Standard Version
Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Nun We shall search our ways and we shall examine and we shall be converted to LORD JEHOVAH
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Let us search and try our ways, And return to the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
NUN. Our way has been searched out and examined, and we will turn to the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Justice
39Why should any mortal man complain, in view of his sins? 40Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD. 41Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven:…

Cross References
Psalm 119:59
I considered my ways and turned my steps to Your testimonies.

2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?

Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. / See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.

Galatians 6:4
Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else.

Jeremiah 31:18-19
I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God. / After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’

James 1:23-25
For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. / But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.

Ezekiel 18:28
Because he considered and turned from all the transgressions he had committed, he will surely live; he will not die.

1 Corinthians 11:28
Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

Haggai 1:5-7
Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways. / You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.” / This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways.

Matthew 7:3-5
Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? / How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? / You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

Hebrews 3:12-13
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. / But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Zephaniah 2:1-3
Gather yourselves, gather together, O shameful nation, / before the decree takes effect and the day passes like chaff, before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the Day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you. / Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Job 13:23
How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin.


Treasury of Scripture

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

search

1 Chronicles 15:12,13
And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it…

Job 11:13-15
If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; …

Job 34:31,32
Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: …

turn

Deuteronomy 4:30
When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

2 Chronicles 30:6,9
So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria…

Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

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Lamentations 3
1. The prophet bewails his own calamities
22. By the mercies of God, he nourishes his hope
37. He acknowledges God's justice
55. He prays for deliverance
64. And vengeance on his enemies














Let us examine
The phrase "let us examine" calls for introspection and self-assessment. The Hebrew root word here is "חָפַשׂ" (chaphas), which means to search or investigate thoroughly. In the context of Lamentations, this examination is not superficial but a deep, soul-searching endeavor. Historically, this was a time when the Israelites were experiencing the consequences of their disobedience, and the call to examine is a call to recognize their failings. For the modern believer, this is a reminder of the importance of regular self-reflection in light of God's Word, ensuring that one's life aligns with His will.

and test
The word "test" comes from the Hebrew "תָּקַן" (taqan), which means to weigh or measure. This implies a process of evaluation against a standard, which for the Israelites was the Law of God. In a broader scriptural context, testing is akin to refining, as in the refining of metals, where impurities are removed. For Christians, this testing is done through the lens of Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, ensuring that one's faith and actions are genuine and pure.

our ways
"Our ways" refers to the paths or courses of action that individuals or a community take. The Hebrew word "דֶּרֶךְ" (derek) is used here, which can mean a road, journey, or manner of life. In the historical context of Lamentations, the Israelites' ways had led them away from God, resulting in their suffering. This serves as a cautionary tale for believers today, emphasizing the need to align one's life path with God's commandments and teachings.

and turn back
The phrase "turn back" is derived from the Hebrew "שׁוּב" (shuv), which means to return or repent. This is a central theme in the prophetic literature of the Old Testament, where the call to repentance is a call to return to a covenant relationship with God. Repentance involves a change of heart and direction, moving away from sin and towards God. For Christians, this is a continual process of turning away from sin and seeking God's forgiveness and guidance.

to the LORD
"To the LORD" signifies the ultimate goal of the examination, testing, and turning back. The Hebrew name used here is "יְהוָה" (YHWH), the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. In the context of Lamentations, returning to the LORD is about restoring the broken relationship between God and His people. For believers, it is a reminder of the grace and mercy available through Jesus Christ, who makes reconciliation with God possible. This phrase encapsulates the hope and promise of restoration and renewal for those who earnestly seek God.

(40) Let us search . . .--Warnings against murmurs are followed by counsels which point to a more excellent way. Suffering calls a man to self-scrutiny. We should seek to know the sins which it is meant to punish and correct.

To the Lord.--The preposition is an emphatic one: even to the Lord. There is to be no halting half-way in the work of conversion.

Verses 40-51. - Confession of sin, followed by sighs and groans. Verse 40. - Let us search. Our troubles being caused by our sins, let us search them out and correct them.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Let us examine
נַחְפְּשָׂ֤ה (naḥ·pə·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 2664: To seek, to conceal oneself, mask

and test
וְֽנַחְקֹ֔רָה (wə·naḥ·qō·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 2713: To penetrate, to examine intimately

our ways,
דְרָכֵ֙ינוּ֙ (ḏə·rā·ḵê·nū)
Noun - common plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

and turn back
וְנָשׁ֖וּבָה (wə·nā·šū·ḇāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Prophets: Lamentations 3:40 Let us search and try our ways (Lam. La Lm)
Lamentations 3:39
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