Lamentations 4:17

As for us, our eyes failed 1 looking in vain for ezratenu (our help); 1 from our towers we have watched 1 for a nation that could not save us. 1

Orthodox Jewish Bible

In The 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.

In Context

16The anger of Hashem hath scattered them; 1 He will no more regard them; 1 they respected not the persons of the Kohanim; 1 they showed no favor to the Zekenim. 1

18They stalk our steps, 1 that we cannot go in our streets; 1 kitzeinu (our end) is near, our yamim are numbered; 1 for kitzeinu is come. 1

Read all of Lamentations 4

Cross References

Isaiah 20:5And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Kush their expectation, and of Mitzrayim their tiferet (glory, boast).

Isaiah 30:1Hoy (woe, doom) to the banim sorerim (obstinately rebellious children), saith Hashem, 1 that take etzah, but not from Me; 1 and in their plans weave a web, but not of My Ruach, 1 that they may heap up chattat upon chattat; 1

Jeremiah 2:18And now what hast thou to do in the derech Mitzrayim, 1 to drink the waters of the Shichor ([Nile] River)? 1 Or what hast thou to do in the derech Ashur (Assyria), 1 to drink the waters of the Euphrates [River]? 1

Jeremiah 2:37Yea, thou shalt go forth from this, + 2:37 dependence on religiously entangling and compromising foreign allies 1 and thine hands upon thine head; 1 for Hashem hath rejected thy confidences, 1 and thou shalt not prosper in them.

Jeremiah 37:7Thus saith Hashem Elohei Yisroel; Thus shall ye say to Melech Yehudah, that sent you unto Me to enquire of Me; Hinei, the army of Pharaoh, which is come forth l'ezrah (to help, support) you, shall return to Mitzrayim into their own land.

Lamentations 1:19I called for my lovers, 1 but they have deceived me; 1 my kohanim and my zekenim 1 gave up the ghost + 1:19 i.e., expired in HaIr (the City), 1 while they sought okhel (food) 1 to revive their nefashot. 1

Matthew Henry on Lamentations 4:14-21

Cause of Jerusalem's Sorrows. ( b. c. 588.) 13 For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her, 14 They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments. 15 They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there. 16 The anger of the Lord hath divided… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Lamentations 4:17