15 But they cried unto them, Depart ye polluted, depart, depart, touch not: therefore they fled away, and wandered: they have said among the heathen, They shall no more dwell there.

16 The [a]anger of the Lord hath scattered them, he will no more regard them: [b]they reverenced not the face of the Priest, nor had compassion on the Elders.

17 While we waited for our vain help, our eyes failed: for in our waiting we looked for [c]a nation that could not save us.

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 4:16 Or, face.
  2. Lamentations 4:16 That is, the enemies.
  3. Lamentations 4:17 He showeth two principal causes of their destruction: their cruelty and their vain confidence in man: for they trusted in the help of the Egyptians.

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

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

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

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