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.
As for us, our eyes as yet failed - or, rather, 'fail.' This translation forms the best antithesis to the language of the pagan (Lamentations 4:15-16). Calvin translates, 'While as yet we stood as a state, our eyes failed,' etc. But Lamentations 4:18 shows that it is not past, but present evils which cause their eyes to fail. Explain, therefore, as above, As yet our eyes fail (in looking) for our vain help - i:e., in looking to a people for help whose help is vain, who cannot help us (Isaiah 30:7, "The Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose").
We have watched for a nation that could not save us - Egypt. Not only did the Jews look in vain for help to the King of Egypt before the destruction of Jerusalem, when, after having for a brief respite made a diversion in their favour against the besieging army of Nebuchadnezzar, "he afterward came not again anymore out of his land" (2 Kings 24:7; Jeremiah 37:5-11); but also after its destruction they were even now "as yet" watching for that "nation that could not help." Johanan, in spite of Jeremiah's warning from the Lord, led the remnant of the Jews to Egypt. Thus, "In our watching we have watched" (i:e., we have been watching, and are watching), alludes to the hopes from Egypt which they still clung to with a desperate tenacity.
[Tsaddiy (ts)]