Jeremiah 14

Drought, Famine, Sword

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 testifyⁱ against us,

do something, Lord, for the sake of your name.^j

For our backsliding^k is great;

we have sinned^l against you.

You who are the hope^m of Israel,

its Saviorⁿ 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 someone 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!

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

Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray^x for the well-being of this people. Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry;^y though they offer burnt offerings^z and grain offerings,^a I will not accept^b them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword,^c famine^d and plague.”^e

But I said, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, the prophets^f keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine.^g Indeed, I will give you lasting peace^h in this place.’ ”

Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying liesⁱ in my name. I have not sent^j them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions,^k divinations,^l idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. 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^m by sword and famine.ⁿ 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^o them, their wives, their sons and their daughters.^p I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.^q

“Speak this word to them:

“ ‘Let my eyes overflow with tears^r

night and day without ceasing;

for the Virgin^s Daughter, my people,

has suffered a grievous wound,

a crushing blow.^t

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.^u

Both prophet and priest

have gone to a land they know not.^v’ ”

Have you rejected Judah completely?^w

Do you despise Zion?

Why have you afflicted us

so that we cannot be healed?^x

We hoped for peace

but no good has come,

for a time of healing

but there is only terror.^y

We acknowledge^z our wickedness, Lord,

and the guilt of our ancestors;^a

we have indeed sinned^b against you.

For the sake of your name^c do not despise us;

do not dishonor your glorious throne.^d

Remember your covenant^e with us

and do not break it.

Do any of the worthless idols^f of the nations bring rain?^g

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.^h