Lamentations 4:13–20

13 pBecause of the sins of her prophets

And the iniquities of her priests,

qWho shed in her midst

The blood of the just.

14 They wandered blind in the streets;

rThey have defiled themselves with blood,

sSo that no one would touch their garments.

15 They cried out to them,

“Go away, tunclean!

Go away, go away,

Do not touch us!”

When they fled and wandered,

Those among the nations said,

“They shall no longer dwell here.”

16 The 8face of the Lord scattered them;

He no longer regards them.

uThe people do not respect the priests

Nor show favor to the elders.

17 Still vour eyes failed us,

Watching vainly for our help;

In our watching we watched

For a nation that could not save us.

18 wThey 9tracked our steps

So that we could not walk in our streets.

xOur end was near;

Our days were over,

For our end had come.

19 Our pursuers were yswifter

Than the eagles of the heavens.

They pursued us on the mountains

And lay in wait for us in the wilderness.

20 The zbreath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord,

aWas caught in their pits,

Of whom we said, “Under his shadow

We shall live among the nations.”