en_tn/lam/04/17.md

Our eyes failed, looking in vain for help

Their eyes failing represents their seeking and not being able to find what they were looking for. These two phrases together emphasize that they were trying hard to find help. AT: "We continued looking, but we could not find anyone to help us" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)

for help

The abstract noun "help" can be expressed as a verb. AT: "for people to help us" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns)

in vain

without succeeding

we watched for a nation that could not rescue us

Here "watched" represents hoping. It can be stated clearly that they were hoping that a nation would come and rescue them. AT: "we hoped for a nation to come and rescue us, but it could not rescue us" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit)