Lamentations 3:42

We ... thou. These words, which are made emphatic in the Hebrew, emphasize the appalling contrast between the people and their God. Verse 42 forms a conclusion to the argument that begins with v. 37. The succeeding verses return to a description of the judgments suffered by Judah.

Pardoned. Heb. salach, “to forgive”; always used of God’s act, never of man’s. The word frequently lays emphasis on the result of forgiveness as demonstrated by the remission of punishment (Jer. 36:3; Amos 7:2; see on 2 Kings 24:4). It is this thought that seems to be uppermost here. Jeremiah does not say God will not forgive Judah her sins and restore her, for He will (Jer. 33:6-8); but the prophet does say that the Lord has not excused Judah from the punishment that is due her.