Trust in Egypt/Assyria vain; law saves no one after grace
The word seems to be from the captives, repenting over those on whom they were leaning toward help—Egyptians and Assyrians. And it would also be said consistently by those from the circumcision who believed: we were failing emptily hoping unto the law; for the law saves no one, just as Paul said. Therefore neither will those hanging upon the law be able to help after the grace.
Greek
Klagel. Jerem. 4, 17. Ἀπὸ τῶν αἰχμαλώτων ὁ λόγος εἶναι δοκεῖ, μετανοούντων ἐφ οἷς Αἰγυπτίοις καὶ Ἀσσυρίοις πρὸς βοήθειαν ἐπηρείδοντο. λέγοιτο δ’ ἂν ἀκολούθως ὑπὸ τῶν ἐκ περιτομῆς πιστευσάντων· ἐξελείπο- μεν διακενῆς εἰς τὸν νόμον ἐλπίζοντες· ὁ γὰρ νόμος σῴζει οὐδένα, καθάπερ εἶπεν ὁ Παῦλος. οὐκοῦν οὐδὲ οἱ ἠρτημένοι τοῦ νόμου βοηθῆσαι μετὰ τὴν χάριν δυνήσονται.
About this text
Origen, Fragments on Lamentations. Original English Translation from the Greek (Klostermann).
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.