Ratapan 4:17-18

The People of Jerusalem Lament:

ע (Ayin)

4:17 Our eyes continually failed us

as we looked in vain for help. ¹ 

From our watchtowers we watched

for a nation that could not rescue us.

צ (Tsade)

4:18 Our enemies ²  hunted us down at every step ³ 

so that we could not walk about in our streets.

Our end drew near, our days were numbered, ⁴ 

for our end had come!

[4:17]  ¹ tn Heb “Our eyes failed in vain for help.”

[4:18]  ² tn Heb “they”; this has been specified in the translation as “our enemies” for clarity.

[4:18]  ³ tn Heb “they hunted our steps.”

[4:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “our days were full.”