13. This was for the sins of her prophetsand the iniquities of her priests,who shed in the midst of herthe blood of the righteous.
14. They wandered, blind, through the streets;they were so defiled with blood that no one was able to touchtheir garments.
15. “Away! Unclean!” people cried at them.“Away! Away! Do not touch!”So they became fugitives and wanderers;people said among the nations,“They shall stay with us no longer.”
16. The Lord himself has scattered them;he will regard them no more; no honor was shown to the priests, no favor to the elders.
17. Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help;in our watching we watchedfor a nation which could not save.
18. They dogged our stepsso that we could not walk in our streets; our end drew near; our days were numbered,for our end had come.