14
1 This
is the LORD’s
word that came
to Jeremiah
concerning the
drought:
2 “Judah mourns,
and its
gates languish.
They sit in
black on
the ground.
The cry of
Jerusalem goes up.
3 Their nobles
send their little
ones to the
waters.
They come to
the cisterns,
and find no
water.
They return with
their vessels
empty.
They are disappointed
and confounded,
and cover their
heads.
4 Because
of the ground
which is cracked,
because no rain
has been in
the land,
the plowmen are disappointed.
They cover their
heads.
5 Yes,
the doe in the
field also calves
and forsakes her
young,
because there is
no grass.
6 The
wild donkeys stand
on the bare
heights.
They pant for
air like jackals.
Their eyes fail,
because there is
no vegetation.
7 Though
our iniquities
testify against us,
work for your
name’s sake, LORD;
for our rebellions
are many.
We have sinned
against you.
8 You
hope of Israel,
its Savior in
the time of
trouble,
why should you
be as a
foreigner in
the land,
and as a wayfaring
man who turns
aside to stay
for a night?
9 Why
should you be
like a scared man,
as a mighty
man who can’t
save?
Yet you, LORD,
are in the
middle of us,
and we are
called by your
name.
Don’t leave us.
10 The
LORD says to
this people:
“Even so they
have loved to
wander.
They have not
restrained their
feet.
Therefore the
LORD does not
accept them.
Now he will
remember their
iniquity,
and punish them
for their sins.”
11 The
LORD said to me,
“Don’t pray for
this people for
their good.
12 When
they fast, I
will not hear
their cry; and
when they offer
burnt offering and
meal offering, I
will not accept
them; but I
will consume them
by the sword,
by famine, and
by pestilence.”
13 Then
I said, “Ah, Lord
GOD! Behold, the
prophets tell them,
‘You will not
see the sword,
neither will you
have famine; but
I will give
you assured peace
in this place.’ ”
14 Then
the LORD said
to me, “The
prophets prophesy
lies in my
name. I didn’t
send them. I didn’t
command them.
I didn’t speak to
them. They
prophesy to you
a lying vision,
divination, and a
thing of nothing,
and the deceit
of their own heart.
15 Therefore
the LORD says
concerning the
prophets who
prophesy in my
name, but I didn’t
send them, yet
they say, ‘Sword
and famine will
not be in
this land.’ Those
prophets will be
consumed by sword
and famine.
16 The
people to whom
they prophesy will
be cast out
in the streets
of Jerusalem
because of the
famine and the
sword. They will
have no one
to bury them—them, their wives, their
sons, or their
daughters, for I
will pour their
wickedness on them.
17 “You
shall say this
word to them:
“ ‘Let my eyes
run down with
tears night and
day,
and let them
not cease;
for the virgin
daughter of my
people is broken
with a great
breach,
with a very
grievous wound.
18 If
I go out
into the field,
then behold, the
slain with the
sword!
If I enter into
the city,
then behold,
those who are
sick with famine!
For both the
prophet and the
priest go about
in the land,
and have no
knowledge.’ ”
19 Have
you utterly
rejected Judah?
Has your soul
loathed Zion?
Why have you
struck us, and
there is no
healing for us?
We looked for
peace, but no good
came;
and for a
time of healing,
and behold, dismay!
20 We
acknowledge, LORD,
our wickedness,
and the iniquity
of our fathers;
for we have
sinned against you.
21 Do
not abhor us,
for your name’s
sake.
Do not disgrace
the throne of
your glory.
Remember, and don’t
break your
covenant with us.
22 Are
there any among
the vanities of
the nations that
can cause rain?
Or can the
sky give showers?
Aren’t you he,
the LORD our
God?
Therefore we will
wait for you;
for you have
made all these
things.