12. Neither the kings of the earth nor anyone living on earth could believethat enemies or invaders would ever get through the gates of Jerusalem.
13. ⌊They got through⌋ because of the sins of Jerusalem’s prophetsand the crimes of its priests,who spilled the blood of righteous people within it.
14. My people staggered blindly through the streets.They were so contaminated with bloodstainsthat no one would touch their clothes.
15. ‘Get away! You’re unclean,’ people yelled at them.‘Get away! Get away! Don’t touch anyone.’When they fled and wandered around,the people of the nations said, ‘They can’t stay here any longer.’
16. The Lord himself has scattered them.He will no longer look favorably on them.They no longer respected the priests,nor did they honor their older leaders.”