Lamentations 3:31 (ASV)

Passage

For the Lord will not cast off for ever.

Nearby Context

Lamentations 3:29 Let him put his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope.

Lamentations 3:30 Let him give his cheek to him that smiteth him; let him be filled full with reproach.

Lamentations 3:31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever.

Lamentations 3:32 For though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

Lamentations 3:33 For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "lord", "cast", and "ever". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "lord" and "cast", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 30's "Let him give his cheek to him..." into verse 32's "For though he cause grief yet will...", so "lord" and "cast" belong inside that flow. In Lamentations context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "lord" and "cast" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.