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The Lord Sends a Drought

14 Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah about the drought.

Judah mourns; its gates fall apart.
    The people of Judah sit in mourning on the ground.
    Their cry goes up from Jerusalem.
Important people send their assistants out for water.
    They go to the cisterns, but they don’t find any water.
    They come back with their containers empty.
    They cover their heads, because they are ashamed and disgraced.
The ground is cracked because there has been no rain in the land.
    The farmers are disappointed. They cover their heads.
Even deer in the fields give birth and abandon their young
    because there’s no grass.
Wild donkeys stand on the bare hills.
    They sniff the air like jackals.
        Their eyesight fails because they have no green plants.

Do something, Yahweh, for the sake of your name,
    even though our sins testify against us.
        We have been unfaithful and have sinned against you.
You are Israel’s hope,
    the one who saves it in times of trouble.
    Why should you be like a stranger in the land,
    like a traveler who stays only one night?
Why should you be like someone taken by surprise,
    like a strong man who cannot help?
    You, O Yahweh, are among us.
    We are called by your name.
        Don’t leave us!

10 This is what Yahweh says about these people: They love to wander. They don’t keep their feet where they belong. So Yahweh isn’t happy with them. He will remember their crimes and punish their sins.

11 Yahweh said to me, “Don’t pray for the good of these people. 12 Even if they go without food, I won’t listen to their cries for help. Even if they sacrifice burnt offerings and grain offerings, I won’t be pleased with them. But I will destroy these people with wars, famines, and plagues.”

13 Then I said, “Adonay Yahweh, prophets are saying to them, ‘You won’t see wars or famines, because I, the Lord, will give you lasting peace in this place.’”

14 Then Yahweh told me, “These are the lies that the prophets are telling in my name: They claim that I sent them, commanded them, and spoke to them. They dreamed up the visions they tell you. Their predictions are worthless. They are the products of their own imagination.

15 “I didn’t send these prophets. Yet, they prophesy in my name that there will be no wars or famines in this land. So this is what I, Yahweh, say about them: Wars and famines will bring an end to these prophets. 16 The people they prophesy to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem. They will be victims of famines and wars. No one will bury them, their wives, their sons, or their daughters. I will pour on them the destruction that they deserve.

17 “Say this to them:

‘My eyes flow with tears day and night without stopping
    because my dear people will suffer massive destruction.
        It will be a very serious blow.’”
18 If I go to the field, I see those killed because of war.
    If I go to the city, I see those sick because of famine.
    Prophets and priests wander through a land they haven’t heard of.
19 Have you completely rejected Judah?
    Do you despise Zion?
    Why have you struck us so hard that we cannot heal?
    We hope for peace, but no good comes from it.
    We hope for a time of healing, but there’s only terror.
20 O Yahweh, we realize our wickedness
    and the wrongs done by our ancestors.
        We have sinned against you.
21 For the sake of your name, don’t despise us.
    Don’t dishonor your glorious throne.
    Remember your promise[a] to us; don’t break it.
22 The worthless gods of the nations can’t make it rain.
    By themselves, the skies can’t give showers.
        But you can, O Yahweh our Elohim.
            We have hope in you because you do all these things.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 14:21 Or “covenant.”

Drought, Famine, Sword

14 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:(A)

“Judah mourns,(B)
    her cities languish;
they wail for the land,
    and a cry goes up from Jerusalem.
The nobles send their servants for water;
    they go to the cisterns
    but find no water.(C)
They return with their jars unfilled;
    dismayed and despairing,
    they cover their heads.(D)
The ground is cracked
    because there is no rain in the land;(E)
the farmers are dismayed
    and cover their heads.
Even the doe in the field
    deserts her newborn fawn
    because there is no grass.(F)
Wild donkeys stand on the barren heights(G)
    and pant like jackals;
their eyes fail
    for lack of food.”(H)

Although our sins testify(I) against us,
    do something, Lord, for the sake of your name.(J)
For we have often rebelled;(K)
    we have sinned(L) against you.
You who are the hope(M) of Israel,
    its Savior(N) in times of distress,(O)
why are you like a stranger in the land,
    like a traveler who stays only a night?
Why are you like a man taken by surprise,
    like a warrior powerless to save?(P)
You are among(Q) us, Lord,
    and we bear your name;(R)
    do not forsake(S) us!

10 This is what the Lord says about this people:

“They greatly love to wander;
    they do not restrain their feet.(T)
So the Lord does not accept(U) them;
    he will now remember(V) their wickedness
    and punish them for their sins.”(W)

11 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray(X) for the well-being of this people. 12 Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry;(Y) though they offer burnt offerings(Z) and grain offerings,(AA) I will not accept(AB) them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword,(AC) famine(AD) and plague.”(AE)

13 But I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophets(AF) keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine.(AG) Indeed, I will give you lasting peace(AH) in this place.’”

14 Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies(AI) in my name. I have not sent(AJ) them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions,(AK) divinations,(AL) idolatries[a] and the delusions of their own minds. 15 Therefore this is what the Lord says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish(AM) by sword and famine.(AN) 16 And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury(AO) them, their wives, their sons and their daughters.(AP) I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.(AQ)

17 “Speak this word to them:

“‘Let my eyes overflow with tears(AR)
    night and day without ceasing;
for the Virgin(AS) Daughter, my people,
    has suffered a grievous wound,
    a crushing blow.(AT)
18 If I go into the country,
    I see those slain by the sword;
if I go into the city,
    I see the ravages of famine.(AU)
Both prophet and priest
    have gone to a land they know not.(AV)’”

19 Have you rejected Judah completely?(AW)
    Do you despise Zion?
Why have you afflicted us
    so that we cannot be healed?(AX)
We hoped for peace
    but no good has come,
for a time of healing
    but there is only terror.(AY)
20 We acknowledge(AZ) our wickedness, Lord,
    and the guilt of our ancestors;(BA)
    we have indeed sinned(BB) against you.
21 For the sake of your name(BC) do not despise us;
    do not dishonor your glorious throne.(BD)
Remember your covenant(BE) with us
    and do not break it.
22 Do any of the worthless idols(BF) of the nations bring rain?(BG)
    Do the skies themselves send down showers?
No, it is you, Lord our God.
    Therefore our hope is in you,
    for you are the one who does all this.(BH)

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 14:14 Or visions, worthless divinations