12 No one anywhere, not even rulers of foreign nations,believed that any invader could enter Jerusalem's gates.
13 But it happened because her prophets sinned and her priests were guiltyof causing the death of innocent people.
14 Her leaders wandered through the streets like the blind,so stained with blood that no one would touch them.
15 “Go away!” people shouted. “You're defiled! Don't touch me!”So they wandered from nation to nation, welcomed by no one.
16 The Lord had no more concern for them; he scattered them himself.He showed no regard for our priests and leaders.
17 For help that never came, we looked until we could look no longer.We kept waiting for help from a nation that had none to give.
18 The enemy was watching for us; we could not even walk in the streets.Our days were over; the end had come.