# Lamentations 3.38
**Book:** [Lamentations](/codex/lamentations/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT
## Immediate context (±2 verses)
**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 36. To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not. 37. Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
>
> **38. Out of the mouth of the Most High cometh there not evil and good?**
>
> 39. Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? 40. Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah. (Lamentations 3:36-40, ASV)
**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 36. To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord doesn’t approve. 37. Who is he who says, and it comes to pass, when the Lord doesn’t command it?
>
> **38. Doesn’t evil and good come out of the mouth of the Most High?**
>
> 39. Why does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? 40. Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Yahweh. (Lamentations 3:36-40, WEB)
**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 36. To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not. approveth not: or, seeth not 37. Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
>
> **38. Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?**
>
> 39. Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? complain: or, murmur 40. Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. (Lamentations 3:36-40, KJV)
**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 36. To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord hath not approved. 37. Who [is] this, he hath said, and it is, [And] the Lord hath not commanded [it]?
>
> **38. From the mouth of the Most High Go not forth the evils and the good.**
>
> 39. What, sigh habitually doth a living man, A man for his sin? 40. We search our ways, and investigate, And turn back unto Jehovah. (Lamentations 3:36-40, YLT)
## Setting
- **Speaker:** Jeremiah (traditional)
- **Audience:** Judah after the fall of Jerusalem
- **Location:** Jerusalem ruins
- **Time period:** composed c. 586-580 BC
## Theological reading
## Key words
- [H2896 - tov](/codex/h2896-tov/), *tov* (Strong's H2896). Also appears in: [Genesis 1.14-19](/codex/genesis-1-14-19/), [Genesis 1.21](/codex/genesis-1-21/), [Genesis 1.24-28](/codex/genesis-1-24-28/).
## Why these four translations
ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.
The four:
- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.
See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.
## Quoted in
**Arguments and defeaters:**
- [Yahweh is a Son of Elyon Defeater](/codex/yahweh-is-a-son-of-elyon-defeater/), via [Lamentations 3.35-38](/codex/lamentations-3-35-38/)
**Concepts:**
- [Divine Sovereignty](/codex/divine-sovereignty/)
- [Isaiah 45.7 I Create Evil](/codex/isaiah-45-7-i-create-evil/)
**Passages:**
- [Isaiah 45.7](/codex/isaiah-45-7/)