Lamentations 4:17

17 Moreover, our eyes failed, looking in vain for help; from our towers we watched for a nation that could not save us.

Lamentations 4:17 in Other Translations

17 As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.

17 Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; in our watching we watched for a nation which could not save.

17 We looked in vain for our allies to come and save us, but we were looking to nations that could not help us.

17 We watched and watched, wore our eyes out looking for help. And nothing. We mounted our lookouts and looked for the help that never showed up.

17 Our eyes do yet fail [in looking] for our vain help: In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.

17 "We are still straining our eyes, trying in vain to find help. We waited and waited for a nation that didn't save us.

17 All the while our eyes were failing [as we looked] in vain for assistance; we watched from our towers for a nation that refused to help.

17 And that's not all. Our eyes grew tired. We looked for help that never came. We watched from our towers. We kept looking for a nation that couldn't save us.

Lamentations 4:17 Meaning and Commentary

Lamentations 4:17

As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help
Or, "while we were yet" ^F8; a nation, a people, a body politic, in our own land, before the city of Jerusalem was taken, we were looking for help, as was promised us; but it proved a vain help, none was given us; for which we kept looking to the last, till our eyes failed, and we could look no longer; no help appeared, nor was there any prospect or probability of it, and therefore gave all up: in our watching we watched for a nation [that] could not save [us];
not the Romans, as the Targum, but the Egyptians; these promised them help and relief, and therefore in their watching they watched, or vehemently watched, and wistfully looked out for it, but all in vain; for though these made an attempt to help them, they durst not proceed; were obliged to retire, not being a match for the Chaldean army, and so could not save them, or break up the siege, and relieve them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 (hnydwe) "quum adhuc essemus", Munster: Piscator.

Lamentations 4:17 In-Context

15 “Go away! You are unclean!” people cry to them. “Away! Away! Don’t touch us!” When they flee and wander about, people among the nations say, “They can stay here no longer.”

16 The LORD himself has scattered them; he no longer watches over them. The priests are shown no honor, the elders no favor.

17 Moreover, our eyes failed, looking in vain for help; from our towers we watched for a nation that could not save us.

18 People stalked us at every step, so we could not walk in our streets. Our end was near, our days were numbered, for our end had come.

19 Our pursuers were swifter than eagles in the sky; they chased us over the mountains and lay in wait for us in the desert.

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 15:18; S Isaiah 20:5; Ezekiel 29:16
• 2. S Lamentations 1:7
• 3. Jeremiah 37:7