Lamentations 4:12-16

New American Standard Bible

¹² The kings of the earth did not believe,
Nor did any of ^(A)the inhabitants of the world,
That the adversary and the enemy
Would ^(B)enter the gates of Jerusalem.
¹³ Because of the sins of her ^(C)prophets
And the wrongdoings of her priests,
Who have shed in her midst
The ^(D)blood of the righteous,
¹⁴ They wandered, ^(E)blind, in the streets;
They were defiled with ^(F)blood,
Such that no one could touch their ^(G)garments.
¹⁵ “Keep away! ^(H)Unclean!” ^[a]they cried out of themselves.
“Keep away, keep away, do not touch!”
For they ^(I)distanced themselves as well as wandered;
People among the nations said,
“They shall not continue to reside with us.”
¹⁶ The presence of the Lord has scattered them,
He will not continue to look at them;
They did not ^[b](J)honor the priests,
They did not favor the elders.