Lamentations 4:13-22 ▼

13 Because of the sins of her prophets And the iniquities of her priests, Who have shed in her midst The blood of the righteous;

14 They wandered, blind, in the streets; They were defiled with blood So that no one could touch their garments.

15 “Depart! Unclean!” they cried of themselves. “Depart, depart, do not touch!” So they fled and wandered; Men among the nations said, “They shall not continue to sojourn with us.”

16 The presence of Yahweh has eradicated them; He will not continue to look at them; They did not honor the priests; They did not favor the elders.

17 Yet our eyes were spent, Looking for help was vanity; In our watching we have watched For a nation that could not save.

18 They hunted our steps So that we could not walk in our open squares; Our end drew near, Our days were finished, For our end had come.

19 Our pursuers were swifter Than the eagles of the sky; They hotly pursued us on the mountains; They waited in ambush for us in the wilderness.

20 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Yahweh, Was captured in their pits, Of whom we had said, “Under his shadow We shall live among the nations.”

21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, Who inhabits the land of Uz; But the cup will pass on to you as well; You will become drunk and make yourself naked.

22 The punishment of your iniquity has come to an end, O daughter of Zion; He will exile you no longer. But He will punish your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins!