Jeremiah 14:11–18

11 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not praym for the well-being of this people. 12 Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry;n though they offer burnt offeringso and grain offerings,p I will not acceptq them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword,r famines and plague.”t

13 But I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophetsu keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine.v Indeed, I will give you lasting peacew in this place.’ ”

14 Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying liesx in my name. I have not senty them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions,z divinations,a idolatriesa 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 perishb by sword and famine.c 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 buryd them, their wives, their sons and their daughters.e I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.f

17 “Speak this word to them:

“ ‘Let my eyes overflow with tearsg

night and day without ceasing;

for the Virginh Daughter, my people,

has suffered a grievous wound,

a crushing blow.i

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.j

Both prophet and priest

have gone to a land they know not.k’ ”