Lamentations 4:17
◄  Lamentations 4:17  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Moreover, our eyes failed, looking in vain for help; from our towers we watched for a nation that could not save us.

New Living Translation (©2007)
We looked in vain for our allies to come and save us, but we were looking to nations that could not help us.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; in our watching we watched for a nation which could not save.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Yet our eyes failed, Looking for help was useless; In our watching we have watched For a nation that could not save.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
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.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Our eyes failed, searching in vain for hope; we kept watching and looking for a nation that would not help.

NET Bible (©2006)
Our eyes continually failed us as we looked in vain for help. From our watchtowers we watched for a nation that could not rescue us.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"We are still straining our eyes, trying in vain to find help. We waited and waited for a nation that didn't save us.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
As for us, our eyes as yet failed, watching for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.

American King James Version
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.

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

Douay-Rheims Bible
Ain. While we were yet standing, our eyes failed, expecting help for us in vain, when we looked attentively towards a nation that was not able to save.

Darby Bible Translation
Our eyes still failed for our vain help; in our watching, we have watched for a nation that did not save.

English Revised Version
Our eyes do yet fail in looking for our vain help; in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

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

Young's Literal Translation
While we exist -- consumed are our eyes for our vain help, In our watch-tower we have watched for a nation that saveth not.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:13-20 Nothing ripens a people more for ruin, nor fills the measure faster, than the sins of priests and prophets. The king himself cannot escape, for Divine vengeance pursues him. Our anointed King alone is the life of our souls; we may safely live under his shadow, and rejoice in Him in the midst of our enemies, for He is the true God and eternal life.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - As for us, our eyes, etc.; rather (correcting the reading of the first word), Our eyes were still wasting away (as we looked) for our help in vain. To the very last the Jews leaned on "that broken reed," Egypt (Isaiah 36:6); how vain that hope would be Jeremiah had already told them (Jeremiah 37:7, 8). In our watching; i.e. earnestly and continually; or, on our watchtower.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help,.... Or, "while we were yet" (h); 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.

(h) "quum adhuc essemus", Munster: Piscator.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

17. As for us—This translation forms the best antithesis to the language of the heathen (La 4:15, 16). Calvin translates, "While as yet we stood as a state, our eyes failed," &c.

watched for a nation that could not save us—Egypt (2Ki 24:7; Isa 30:7; Jer 37:5-11).

Tzaddi.

Lamentations 4:17 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Distress of Zion
…16The anger of the LORD has divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favored not the elders. 17As 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. 18They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come. …

Jeremiah 37:7 "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of me, 'Pharaoh's army, which has marched out to support you, will go back to its own land, to Egypt.
Lamentations 1:7 In the days of her affliction and wandering Jerusalem remembers all the treasures that were hers in days of old. When her people fell into enemy hands, there was no one to help her. Her enemies looked at her and laughed at her destruction.
Ezekiel 29:6 Then all who live in Egypt will know that I am the LORD. "'You have been a staff of reed for the people of Israel.
Ezekiel 29:7 When they grasped you with their hands, you splintered and you tore open their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke and their backs were wrenched.