It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV
About the Book of Lamentations
Lamentations is a set of five poems mourning the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon. The first, second and fourth describe the city's ruin in graphic terms: starvation, a desolate temple and a people abandoned. The third, at the book's center, turns toward hope in God's faithfulness even while pain continues. The fifth is a communal prayer asking for restoration. The first four poems are written as acrostics following the Hebrew alphabet, which gives grief a disciplined shape.
- Testament: Old Testament
- Genre: Poetry
- Chapters: 5
- Verses: 154
Who Wrote Lamentations, and When?
Author: Traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, though the book itself is anonymous.
When it was written: Probably soon after Jerusalem fell in 586 BC.
Main Themes in Lamentations
- Grief and honesty
- Accepting responsibility
- Hope in God's faithfulness
A Key Verse: Lamentations 3:22-23
It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
In the middle of the book's darkest imagery comes a statement that God's mercies are renewed each morning.
Reading Tip
The acrostic structure is lost in English, but the letter-by-letter order shows the poet trying to say everything about grief from A to Z. Use the randomizer above to land on a verse in Lamentations, then press Show context to read the verses around it.
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Browse all 66 books on the Bible books page, or get a verse from the whole Bible with the main Bible verse randomizer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chapters and verses are in Lamentations?
Lamentations has 5 chapters and 154 verses in the King James Version.
Who wrote Lamentations?
Author: Traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, though the book itself is anonymous. When it was written: Probably soon after Jerusalem fell in 586 BC.
What is Lamentations about?
Lamentations is a set of five poems mourning the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon. The first, second and fourth describe the city's ruin in graphic terms: starvation, a desolate temple and a people abandoned. The third, at the book's center, turns toward hope in God's faithfulness even while pain continues. The fifth is a communal prayer asking for restoration. The first four poems are written as acrostics following the Hebrew alphabet, which gives grief a disciplined shape.
Can I get a random verse from only Lamentations?
Yes. This page picks a random verse from Lamentations only. Every one of its 154 verses has an equal chance.