Jeremiah 14

1 The word of Jehovah that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought.2 Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish, they sit in black upon the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.3 And 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 put to shame and confounded, and cover their heads.4 Because of the ground which is cracked, for that no rain hath been in the land, the plowmen are put to shame, they cover their heads.5 Yea, the hind also in the field calveth, and forsaketh her young, because there is no grass.6 And the wild asses stand on the bare heights, they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage.7 Though our iniquities testify against us, work thou for thy name’s sake, O Jehovah; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.8 O thou hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a sojourner in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?9 Why shouldest thou be as a man affrighted, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O Jehovah, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.10 Thus saith Jehovah unto this people, Even so have they loved to wander; they have not refrained their feet: therefore Jehovah doth not accept them; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.11 And Jehovah said unto me, Pray not 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, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.13 Then said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.14 Then Jehovah said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake I unto them: they prophesy unto you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their own heart.15 Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land: By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them-them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.17 And thou shalt say this word unto them, Let mine 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 forth into the field, then, behold, the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then, behold, they that are sick with famine! for both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge.19 Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul loathed Zion? why hast thou smitten 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, O Jehovah, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against thee.21 Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake; do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.22 Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Jehovah our God? therefore we will wait for thee; for thou hast made all these things.

JEREMIAH 14

The Land Dries Up

1 When there had been no rain for a long time, the [Lord] told me to say to the people:

2 Judah and Jerusalem weep
as the land dries up.

3 Rulers send their servants
to the storage pits for water.t
But there's none to be found;
they return in despair
with their jars still empty.

4 There has been no rain,
and farmers feel sick
as they watch cracks appear
in the dry ground.t

5 A deer gives birth in a field,
then abandons her newborn fawn
and leaves in search of grass.

6 Wild donkeys go blind
from starvation.
So they stand on barren hilltops
and sniff the air, t
hoping to smell green grass.

The [Lord]'s People Pray

7 We rejected you and did evil,
so we deserve to be punished.
But if you rescue us, [Lord],
everyone will see
how great you are.

8 You're our only hope;
you alone can save us now.
You help us one day,
but you're gone the next.

9 Did this disaster
take you by surprise?
Are you a warrior
with your hands tied?
You have chosen us,
and your temple is here.
Don't abandon us!

The [Lord]'s Answer

10 My people,
you love to wander away;
you don't even try
to stay close to me.
So now I will reject you
and punish you for your sins.
I, the [Lord], have spoken.

Lying Prophets

12 They may even go without eatingt and offer sacrifices to please met and to give thanks.t But when they cry out for my help, I won't listen, and I won't accept their sacrifices. Instead, I'll send war, starvation, and disease to wipe them out.”

13 I replied, “The other prophets keep telling everyone that you won't send starvation or war, and that you're going to give us peace.”

14 The [Lord] answered:
They claim to speak for me, but they're lying! I didn't even speak to them, much less choose them to be my prophets. Their messages come from worthless dreams, useless fortunetelling, and their own imaginations.
15 Those lying prophets say there will be peace and plenty of food. But I say that those same prophets will die from war and hunger.

16 And everyone who listens to them will be killed, just as they deserve. Their dead bodies will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem, because their families will also be dead, and no one will be left to bury them.t

17 Jeremiah, go and tell the people how you feel about all this.
So I told them:
“Tears will flood my eyes
both day and night,
because my nation suffers
from a deadly wound.

18 In the fields I see the bodies
of those killed in battle.
And in the towns I see crowds
dying of hunger.
But the prophets and priests
go about their business,
without understanding
what has happened.”t

Jeremiah Prays to the [Lord]

19 Have you rejected Judah, [Lord]?
Do you hate Jerusalem?
Why did you strike down Judah
with a fatal wound?
We had hoped for peace
and a time of healing,
but all we got was terror.

20 We and our ancestors are guilty
of rebelling against you.

21 If you save us, it will show
how great you are.
Don't let our enemies
disgrace your temple,
your beautiful throne.
Don't forget that you promised
to rescue us.

22 Idols can't send rain,
and showers don't fall
by themselves.
Only you control the rain,
so we put our trust in you,
the [Lord] our God.