And so, by doing what the LORD requires, you will not be held responsible for the murder.

Manasseh killed so many innocent people that the streets of Jerusalem were flowing with blood; he did this in addition to leading the people of Judah into idolatry, causing them to sin against the LORD.

and especially because of all the innocent people he had killed. The LORD could not forgive Manasseh for that.

Your clothes are stained with the blood of the poor and innocent, not with the blood of burglars. "But in spite of all this,

If you did this, you would defile the land where you are living. Murder defiles the land, and except by the death of the murderer there is no way to perform the ritual of purification for the land where someone has been murdered.

"When you lift your hands in prayer, I will not look at you. No matter how much you pray, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with blood.

The LORD is coming from his heavenly dwelling place to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The murders that were secretly committed on the earth will be revealed, and the ground will no longer hide those who have been killed.

"Everything is in confusion ---the land is full of murders and the cities are full of violence.

Tell the city what I, the Sovereign LORD, am saying: Because you have murdered so many of your own people and have defiled yourself by worshiping idols, your time is coming.