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1. The godly in all their afflictions must look unto the Lord the striker, and not respect the rod wherewith He smiteth.

2. Corrections laid upon others ought not to be neglected, but duly considered of, as the rest of God's works.

(1)  God often smiteth some to instruct others thereby.

(2)  We being of one mould should take to heart the condition one of another.

3. Man is not to be proud though God do many things by him and for him that seem both strange and commendable.

4. The wicked have no cause to rejoice when they prevail against the godly, though they do so usually.

(1)  They are but the Lord's rods, who (without repentance) shall be cast into the fire.

(2)  They do not, as they imagine, overthrow the godly and establish themselves, but the clean contrary.

5. The godly endure more trouble in this world, both inwardly and outwardly, than any other.

(1)  God loveth us, and would wean us from delighting in this world.

(2)  Our nature is so perverse that it will not he framed to any spiritual things without many and grievous corrections.

(3)  Satan and the world do hate us, and labour continually for our destruction.

6. It is a usual thing with us, to think our own troubles more heavy and intolerable than. any others suffer.

(1)  We feel all the smart of our own, and do only afar off behold that which others bear.

(2)  We are more discontented with our own crosses than we should, which maketh us bear them the more impatiently, and think them the more intolerable.

7. The afflictions that God layeth upon His servants are and ought to be grievous unto them for the present time (Hebrews 12:11).

(1)  We justly have deserved them through our sins.

(2)  We must be led by them to repentance, or we abuse them.

8. Though our sins do always deserve it, and our foes do daily desire, yet can no punishment befall the godly till God see it meet to lay it upon them.

9. The anger of God is hot against sin, even in His dearest servants.

(1)  He is most righteous, and cannot bear with any evil.

(2)  It tendeth to His great dishonour.

10. God doth not always afflict His servants, but at such special times as He seeth it meetest for them.

(J. Udall.)

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KJV: Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

WEB: Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look, and see if there be any sorrow like my sorrow, which is brought on me, With which Yahweh has afflicted [me] in the day of his fierce anger.