How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #7
The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem. (NRSV 4:12)
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. (KJV 4:12)
Jerusalem sounds a bit like the Titanic. The people inside the city walls thought their ship was unsinkable. With God living right in the midst of the city, it was really unthinkable that it could be conquered.
Quote #8
So they became fugitives and wanderers; it was said among the nations, "They shall stay here no longer." The Lord himself has scattered them, he will regard them no more; no honor was shown to the priests, no favor to the elders. (NRSV 4:15-16)
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 anger of the Lord hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders. (KJV 4:15-16)
Here, the Poet is talking specifically about the prophets who deceived Jerusalem. God exiled them (along with everyone else) because they didn't manage to convince the people to repent. Does it seem kind of harsh to punish everyone for the sins of the few?
Quote #9
Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; we were watching eagerly for a nation that could not save. They dogged our steps so that we could not walk in our streets; our end drew near; our days were numbered; for our end had come. Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles in the heavens; they chased us on the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness. The Lord's anointed, the breath of our life, was taken in their pits—the one of whom we said, "Under his shadow we shall live among the nations." (NRSV 4:17-20)
As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us. They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come. Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness. The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen. (KJV 4:17-20)
You can feel the people's helplessness in this passage as the invading army gradually approached. They knew the end was near but could do nothing to save themselves.