Lamentations 4:13-20

¹³ It is because of the sins of her prophets and the evil-doing of her priests, by whom the blood of the upright has been drained out in her. ¹⁴ They are wandering like blind men in the streets, they are made unclean with blood, so that their robes may not be touched by men. ¹⁵ Away! unclean! they were crying out to them, Away! away! let there be no touching: when they went away in flight and wandering, men said among the nations, There is no further resting-place for them. ¹⁶ The face of the Lord has sent them in all directions; he will no longer take care of them: they had no respect for the priests, they gave no honour to the old men. ¹⁷ Our eyes are still wasting away in looking for our false help: we have been watching for a nation unable to give salvation. ¹⁸ They go after our steps so that we may not go in our streets: our end is near, our days are numbered; for our end has come. ¹⁹ Those who went after us were quicker than the eagles of the heaven, driving us before them on the mountains, waiting secretly for us in the waste land. ²⁰ Our breath of life, he on whom the holy oil was put, was taken in their holes; of whom we said, Under his shade we will be living among the nations.