Thomas Aquinas Commentary Lamentations 3:34-36

"To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth, To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High, To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not." — Lamentations 3:34-36 (ASV)

Here, the author draws an argument from divine justice.

1. First, he excludes tyrannical oppression. The Lord does not approve of crushing under His feet the afflicted who are prisoners, as a tyrant does. As the psalmist says, The Lord has heard the poor: and has not despised his prisoners (Psalms 68:34).
2. Second, he denies any perversity in the Judge. The Lord does not approve of turning aside from what is right. As the Scripture says, In very deed God will not condemn without cause, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment (Job 34:12).
3. Third, he denies any perverse intention in judgment, as is found among those who intend to oppress others under the cloak of justice. The Lord does not approve of wrongfully destroying a person in his case—that is, through a legal judgment. As the proverb says, The Lord knows the ways that are on the right hand (Proverbs 4:27).