How does the writer react to the affliction of the people?

In verses Lamentations 3:48–51 the reaction of the writer to the affliction of the people is described. Although Lamentations 3:48 is part of a previous stanza, it forms with the mentioned verses a unity in which this reaction is described.

In Lamentations 3:48 the writer abandons the first-person plural to return to the first-person singular. He expresses his sorrow over the misery that has befallen his people. This makes the writer cry continuously, just like the people (see Lamentations 1:16; Lamentations 2:18). When his tears are symbolically described as flow[ing], this refers to canals or irrigation channels that permit the flow of water, which expresses the intensity of his grief at the destruction of the people.¹ He weeps in compassion for his people, and his suffering is even more intense than theirs (see also Psalm 119:136; Jeremiah 14:17). However, his tears are not only an emotional reaction. He wants to move God with his tears in order to not keep him aloof in heaven, but to move him to look down in compassion and notice the misery of his people (see also Psalm 102:20; Psalm 80:15). Therefore, apart from his reaction of grief, he also reacts by pleading the people’s case before God. The writer would weep unceasingly until God answered from heaven. The verb sees (Lamentations 3:50) expresses the expectation that God will not just look but do something about it (see also Lamentations 1:9Lamentations 1:11; Lamentations 2:20; Lamentations 3:59, Lamentations 3:60; Exodus 2:25).² In Lamentations 3:51 the writer refers again to his eyes. This is not a mere repetition, but does indeed offer a new element in describing his reaction. His eyes hurt him spiritually from the incessant weeping. Literally this expression can be translated as follows: my eye does something [evil] to my soul, that is to me.³ It is especially about the daughters of the city that he is sad: about the female inhabitants, who suffered terribly (see also Lamentations 1:4,Lamentations 1:18; Lamentations 2:10,Lamentations 2:11; Lamentations 2:19; Lamentations 5:3,Lamentations 5:11; Jeremiah 6:14; Jeremiah 8:11, Jeremiah 8:21).⁴