The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the
drought:
“Judah mourns,
and her gates languish;
her people lament on the ground,
and the cry of Jerusalem goes up.
Her nobles send their servants for water;
they come to the cisterns;
they find no water;
they return with their vessels empty;
they are ashamed and confounded
and cover their heads.
Because of the ground that is dismayed,
since there is no rain on the land,
the farmers are ashamed;
they cover their heads.
Even the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn
because there is no grass.
The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights;
they pant for air like jackals;
their eyes fail
because there is no vegetation.
“Though our iniquities testify against us,
act, O LORD, for your name's sake;
for our backslidings are many;
we have sinned against you.
O you hope of Israel,
its savior in time of trouble,
why should you be like a stranger in the land,
like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night?
Why should you be like a man confused,
like a mighty warrior who cannot save?
Yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us,
and we are called by your name;
do not leave us.”
Thus says the LORD concerning this people:
“They have loved to wander thus;
they have not restrained their feet;
therefore the LORD does not accept them;
now he will remember their iniquity
and punish their sins.”
The LORD said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this
people. Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though
they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept
them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by
pestilence.”
Then I said: “Ah, Lord GOD, behold, the prophets say to them,
‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will
give you assured peace in this place.’” And the LORD said to me:
“The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them,
nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to
you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their
own minds. Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who
prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say,
‘Sword and famine shall not come upon this land’: By sword and
famine those prophets shall be consumed. And the people to whom
they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem,
victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them—them, their
wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their
evil upon them.
“You shall say to them this word:
‘Let my eyes run down with tears night and day,
and let them not cease,
for the virgin daughter of my people is shattered with a great
wound,
with a very grievous blow.
If I go out into the field,
behold, those pierced by the sword!
And if I enter the city,
behold, the diseases of famine!
For both prophet and priest ply their trade through the land
and have no knowledge.’”
Have you utterly rejected Judah?
Does your soul loathe Zion?
Why have you struck us down
so that there is no healing for us?
We looked for peace, but no good came;
for a time of healing, but behold, terror.
We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD,
and the iniquity of our fathers,
for we have sinned against you.
Do not spurn us, for your name's sake;
do not dishonor your glorious throne;
remember and do not break your covenant with us.
Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can
bring rain?
Or can the heavens give showers?
Are you not he, O LORD our God?
We set our hope on you,
for you do all these things.
