Thomas Aquinas Commentary Lamentations 3:13-15

"He hath caused the shafts of his quiver to enter into my reins. I am become a derision to all my people, and their song all the day. He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath sated me with wormwood." — Lamentations 3:13-15 (ASV)

Second, he describes the affliction of the punishment. The phrase into my reins signifies the wantonness of the people. The term the daughters refers to arrows, or the various punishments coming from His providence. He has opened his quiver, and has afflicted me (Job 30:11).

Third, he describes the mockery of the one being punished with the words I am made a derision to all my people. This is fulfilled in Jeremiah’s experience: I am become a laughing-stock all the day, all scoff at me (Jeremiah 20:7). Likewise, the people were also derided by others.

The phrase He has filled me shows that the punishment was abundant. First, regarding the multitude of pains, he has filled me with bitterness means with various anxieties. Likewise, he has inebriated me means that suffering was brought upon him abundantly (Jeremiah 41:3–10).

Second, the phrase and he has broken (Lamentations 3:16) refers to the number of people punished.