The people who had been delivered from Egypt are now in exile. The city and the temple, to which the name of the Lord was attached in a special way, lie in ruins. As a result, the nations no longer tremble before the Lord or speak of him with great awe. The name of the Lord—his reputation—has been damaged by the sins of his people.
16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us.