Thomas Aquinas Commentary Lamentations 3:37-39

"Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the Most High cometh there not evil and good? Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?" — Lamentations 3:37-39 (ASV)

Here he draws an argument from the divine power by which God governs and provides for all things.

First, he argues against those who insult divine providence with faithless blasphemy: Who is he that has said a thing should be done—meaning anything at all—without the providence of God? By this, he refutes the heresy of those who claim that while God’s providence extends to universal and incorporeal (non-physical) things, such as the celestial bodies, and even to humanity (because of the conformity of human nature to God, as Rabbi Moses said), God does not know other particular things. Out of the mouth of the Most High—that is, by His judgment—come both good (favorable) things and evil (adverse) things. By this, he refutes the error of those who say that everything happens by chance, and also of those who say that punishment does not come from God, as Cicero says.Cicero, De natura deorum, 3.35. For it is written, All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made (John 1:3), and, I make peace and create evil: I the Lord that do all these things (Isaiah 45:7).

Second, he speaks against those who insult God by murmuring impatiently: Why—that is, for what reason—has a living man murmured; for his sins—that is, for the things which he suffers for his sins? As it is written, Keep yourselves therefore from murmuring, which profits nothing, and refrain your tongue from detraction .