11. The Lord fully vented his wrath;he poured out his fierce anger.He started a fire in Zion;it consumed her foundations.ל (Lamed)
12. Neither the kings of the earthnor the people of the lands ever thoughtthat enemy or foe would enterthe gates of Jerusalem.מ (Mem)
13. But it happened due to the sins of her prophetsand the iniquities of her priests,who poured out in her midstthe blood of the righteous.נ (Nun)
14. They wander blindly through the streets,defiled by the blood they shed,while no one daresto touch their garments.ס (Samek)
15. 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)
16. The Lord himself has scattered them;he no longer watches over them.They did not honor the priests;they did not show favor to the elders.ע (Ayin)
17. Our eyes continually failed usas we looked in vain for help.From our watchtowers we watched for a nation that could not rescue us.צ (Tsade)
18. Our enemies hunted us down at every stepso that we could not walk about in our streets.Our end drew near, our days were numbered,for our end had come!ק (Qof)
19. Those who pursued us were swifterthan eagles in the sky.They chased us over the mountains;they ambushed us in the wilderness.ר (Resh)
20. Our very life breath – the Lord’s anointed king – was caught in their traps,of whom we thought, “Under his protection we will survive among the nations.”ש (Sin/Shin)