17 As for us, our eyes H5869 as yet failed H3615 for our vain H1892 help: H5833 in our watching H6836 we have watched H6822 for a nation H1471 that could not save H3467 us.
18 They hunt H6679 our steps, H6806 that we cannot go H3212 in our streets: H7339 our end H7093 is near, H7126 our days H3117 are fulfilled; H4390 for our end H7093 is come. H935
19 Our persecutors H7291 are swifter H7031 than the eagles H5404 of the heaven: H8064 they pursued H1814 us upon the mountains, H2022 they laid wait H693 for us in the wilderness. H4057
20 The breath H7307 of our nostrils, H639 the anointed H4899 of the LORD, H3068 was taken H3920 in their pits, H7825 of whom we said, H559 Under his shadow H6738 we shall live H2421 among the heathen. H1471
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Lamentations 4
Commentary on Lamentations 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
This chapter is another single alphabet of Lamentations for the destruction of Jerusalem, like those in the first two chapters.
Lam 4:1-12
The elegy in this chapter begins with a lamentation of the very sad and doleful change which the judgments of God had made in Jerusalem. The city that was formerly as gold, as the most fine gold, so rich and splendid, the perfection of beauty and the joy of the whole earth, has become dim, and is changed, has lost its lustre, lost its value, is not what it was; it has become dross. Alas! what an alteration is here!
Lam 4:13-20
We have here,
Lam 4:21-22
David's psalms of lamentation commonly conclude with some word of comfort, which is as life from the dead and light shining out of darkness; so does this lamentation here in this chapter. The people of God are now in great distress, their aspects all doleful, their prospects all frightful, and their ill-natured neighbours the Edomites insult over them and do all they can to exasperate their destroyers against them. Such was their violence against their brother Jacob (Obad. 10), such their spleen at Jerusalem, of which they cried, Rase it, rase it, Ps. 137:7. Now it is here foretold, for the encouragement of God's people,