Lamentations 5 · Verse 17

Lamentations 5:17

For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.
Lamentations 5:17, King James Version

Lamentations 5:17 in other translations

BSBBecause of this, our hearts are faint; because of these, our eyes grow dim—
WEBFor this our heart is faint. For these things our eyes are dim:
ASVFor this our heart is faint; For these things our eyes are dim;
YLTFor this hath our heart been sick, For these have our eyes been dim.
DARBYFor this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes have grown dim,
BBEBecause of this our hearts are feeble; for these things our eyes are dark;
WebsterFor this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.

What does Lamentations 5:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. (La 1:22; 2:11).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Lamentations 5:17-22
The people of God express deep concern for the ruins of the temple, more than for any other of their calamities. But whatever changes there are on earth, God is still the same, and remains for ever wise and holy, just and good; with Him there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. They earnestly pray to God for mercy and grace; Turn us to thee, O Lord. God never leaves any till they first leave him; if he turns them to him in a way of duty, no doubt he will quickly return to them in a way of mercy. If God by his grace renew our hearts, he will by his favour renew our days. Troubles may cause our hearts to be faint, and our eyes to be dim, but the way to the mercy-seat of our reconciled God is open. Let us, in all our trials, put our whole trust and confidence in his mercy; let us confess our sins, and pour out our hearts before him. Let us watch against repinings and despondency; for we surely know, that it shall be well in the end with all that trust in, fear, love, and serve the Lord. Are not the Lord's judgments in the earth the same as in Jeremiah's days? Let Zion then be remembered by us in our prayers, and her welfare be sought above every earthly joy. Spare, Lord, spare thy people, and give not thine heritage to reproach, for the heathen to rule over them.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Lamentations 5:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

עַל\־'al-onH5921
זֶ֗הZehthisH2088
הָיָ֤הha.Yahit has becomeH1961
דָוֶה֙da.VehfaintH1739
לִבֵּ֔נוּli.Be.nuheart ourH3820
עַל\־'al-onH5921
אֵ֖לֶּה'E.lehthese [things]H428
חָשְׁכ֥וּcha.she.Khuthey have grown dimH2821
עֵינֵֽינוּ\׃'ei.Nei.nueyes ourH5869

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Lamentations 5:17

  • Psalms 6:7

    Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

  • Isaiah 1:5

    Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

  • Lamentations 2:11

    Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.

  • Job 17:7

    Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.

  • Isaiah 38:14

    Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

  • Ezekiel 21:7

    And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord God.

  • Jeremiah 46:5

    Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the Lord.

  • Micah 6:13

    Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.

  • Psalms 69:3

    I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

  • Psalms 31:9

    Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

  • Deuteronomy 28:65

    And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

  • Leviticus 26:36

    And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
our heart.
1:13,22; Le 26:36; Isa 1:5; Jer 8:18; 46:5; Eze 21:7,15; Mic 6:13
our eyes.
2:11; De 28:65; Job 17:7; Ps 6:7; 31:9; 69:3; Isa 38:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Lamentations 5:16

    The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!

  • Lamentations 5:17

    For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.

  • Lamentations 5:18

    Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.

Read all of Lamentations 5

Lamentations 5:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por esto fué entristecido nuestro corazón, por esto se entenebrecieron nuestros ojos:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		À cause de cela notre cœur est abattu; à cause de ces choses nos yeux sont obscurcis,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Darum ist unser Herz siech geworden, um dieser Dinge willen sind unsere Augen verdunkelt:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Propterea mœstum factum est cor nostrum; ideo contenebrati sunt oculi nostri,