13 But it happened because of the sins of her prophets
    and the iniquities of her priests,(A)
who shed within her
    the blood(B) of the righteous.

14 Now they grope through the streets
    as if they were blind.(C)
They are so defiled with blood(D)
    that no one dares to touch their garments.

15 “Go away! You are unclean!” people cry to them.
    “Away! Away! Don’t touch us!”
When they flee and wander(E) about,
    people among the nations say,
    “They can stay here no longer.”(F)

16 The Lord himself has scattered them;
    he no longer watches over them.(G)
The priests are shown no honor,
    the elders(H) no favor.(I)

17 Moreover, our eyes failed,
    looking in vain(J) for help;(K)
from our towers we watched
    for a nation(L) that could not save us.

18 People stalked us at every step,
    so we could not walk in our streets.
Our end was near, our days were numbered,
    for our end had come.(M)

19 Our pursuers were swifter
    than eagles(N) in the sky;
they chased us(O) over the mountains
    and lay in wait for us in the desert.(P)

20 The Lord’s anointed,(Q) our very life breath,
    was caught in their traps.(R)
We thought that under his shadow(S)
    we would live among the nations.

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