Lamentations 4:12-15 - Compare All Versions

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The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the peoples of the world, that enemies and foes could enter the gates of Jerusalem. But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous. Now they grope through the streets as if they were blind. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments. “Go away! You are unclean!” people cry to them. “Away! Away! Don’t touch us!” When they flee and wander about, people among the nations say, “They can stay here no longer.”

The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem. This was for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed in the midst of her the blood of the righteous. They wandered, blind, through the streets; they were so defiled with blood that no one was able to touch their garments. “Away! Unclean!” people cried at them. “Away! Away! Do not touch!” So they became fugitives and wanderers; people said among the nations, “They shall stay with us no longer.”

Not a king in all the earth— no one in all the world— would have believed that an enemy could march through the gates of Jerusalem. Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the sins of her priests, who defiled the city by shedding innocent blood. They wandered blindly through the streets, so defiled by blood that no one dared touch them. “Get away!” the people shouted at them. “You’re defiled! Don’t touch us!” So they fled to distant lands and wandered among foreign nations, but none would let them stay.

The kings of the earth and all the world’s inhabitants did not believe that an enemy or adversary could enter Jerusalem’s gates.  Yet it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous within her.  Blind, they stumbled in the streets,  defiled by this blood,  so that no one dared to touch their garments. “Stay away! Unclean! ” people shouted at them. “Away, away! Don’t touch us! ”  So they wandered aimlessly.  It was said among the nations, “They can stay here no longer.”

The kings of the earth, And all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed That the adversary and the enemy should have entered Into the gates of Jerusalem. For the sins of her prophets, And the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood Of the just in the midst of her, They have wandered as blind men in the streets, They have polluted themselves with blood, So that men could not touch Their garments. They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; Depart, depart, touch not: When they fled away and wandered, They said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there.

The kings of the earth, And all inhabitants of the world, Would not have believed That the adversary and the enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem— Because of the sins of her prophets And the iniquities of her priests, Who shed in her midst The blood of the just. They wandered blind in the streets; They have defiled themselves with blood, So that no one would touch their garments. They cried out to them, “Go away, unclean! Go away, go away, Do not touch us!” When they fled and wandered, Those among the nations said, “They shall no longer dwell here.”

The kings of the earth couldn’t believe it. World rulers were in shock, Watching old enemies march in big as you please, right through Jerusalem’s gates. Because of the sins of her prophets and the evil of her priests, Who exploited good and trusting people, robbing them of their lives, These prophets and priests blindly grope their way through the streets, grimy and stained from their dirty lives, Wasted by their wasted lives, shuffling from fatigue, dressed in rags. People yell at them, “Get out of here, dirty old men! Get lost, don’t touch us, don’t infect us!” They have to leave town. They wander off. Nobody wants them to stay here. Everyone knows, wherever they wander, that they’ve been kicked out of their own hometown.

The kings of the earth did not believe, Nor did any of the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy Would enter the gates of Jerusalem. Because of the sins of her prophets And the wrongdoings of her priests, Who have shed in her midst The blood of the righteous, They wandered, blind, in the streets; They were defiled with blood, Such that no one could touch their garments. “Keep away! Unclean!” they cried out of themselves. “Keep away, keep away, do not touch!” For they distanced themselves as well as wandered; People among the nations said, “They shall not continue to reside with us.”

The kings of the earth did not believe, Nor did any of the inhabitants of the earth, That the adversary (oppressor) and enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem. Because of the sins of her [counterfeit] prophets And the wickedness of her [unfaithful] priests, Who have shed in her midst The blood of the just and righteous; They wandered, blind, in the streets; They were defiled with blood So that no one could touch their garments. People cried to them, “Go away! Unclean! Depart! Depart! Do not touch!” So they fled, then they wandered [as fugitives]; People among the nations said, “They shall not stay here any longer with us.”

Neither the kings of the earth nor the people of the lands ever thought that enemy or foe would enter the gates of Jerusalem. מ (Mem) But it happened due to the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who poured out in her midst the blood of the righteous. נ (Nun) They wander blindly through the streets, defiled by the blood they shed, while no one dares to touch their garments. ס (Samek) People cry to them, “Turn away! You are unclean! Turn away! Turn away! Don’t touch us!” So they have fled and wander about; but the nations say, “They may not stay here any longer.” פ (Pe)