13 Because of the sins of her prophets And the iniquities of her priests , Who have shed in her midst The blood of the righteous ; 14 They wandered , blind , in the streets ; They were defiled with blood So that no one could touch their garments . 15 "Depart ! Unclean !" they cried of themselves. "Depart , depart , do not touch !" So they fled and wandered ; Men among the nations said , "They shall not continue to dwell with us." 16 The presence of the Lord has scattered them, He will not continue to regard them; They did not honor e the priests , They did not favor the elders . 17 Yet our eyes failed , Looking for help was useless ; In our watching we have watched For a nation that could not save . 18 They hunted our steps So that we could not walk in our streets ; Our end drew near , Our days were finished For our end had come . 19 Our pursuers were swifter Than the eagles of the sky ; They chased us on the mountains , They waited in ambush for us in the wilderness . 20 The breath of our nostrils , the Lord'S anointed , Was captured in their pits , Of whom we had said , "Under his shadow We shall live among the nations ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Lamentations 4:13-20
Commentary on Lamentations 4:13-20
(Read Lamentations 4:13-20)
Nothing ripens a people more for ruin, nor fills the measure faster, than the sins of priests and prophets. The king himself cannot escape, for Divine vengeance pursues him. Our anointed King alone is the life of our souls; we may safely live under his shadow, and rejoice in Him in the midst of our enemies, for He is the true God and eternal life.