1The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.2Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.3And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads.4Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.5Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it , because there was no grass.6And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.7O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name' sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.8O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?9Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.10Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.11Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.12When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.13Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! 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.14Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.15Therefore thus saith the LORD 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.16And 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.17Therefore 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 blow.18If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.19Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!20We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.21Do not abhor us , for thy name' sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.22Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things .
Jeremiah 14
English Standard Version
Famine, Sword, and Pestilence
1The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: (Jer 17:8)2“Judah mourns, and her gates languish; her people lament on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem goes up. (1Sa 5:12; Isa 3:26; La 1:4; La 2:8)3Her 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. (2Sa 15:30; Ps 40:14)4Because of the ground that is dismayed, since there is no rain on the land, the farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads. (Jer 3:3)5Even the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn because there is no grass. (Job 39:1; Ps 29:9)6The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail because there is no vegetation. (Jer 2:24)7“Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name’s sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. (Ps 25:11; Jer 2:19; Jer 14:20; Jer 14:21)8O 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? (Ps 71:5; Jer 17:13; Jer 50:7)9Why 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.” (Ex 29:45; Ps 119:121; Isa 59:1; Da 9:18; Eph 3:15)10Thus 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.” (Ho 8:13; Ho 9:9)11The Lord said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. (Jer 7:16)12Though 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.” (Pr 1:28; Isa 1:15; Jer 6:20; Jer 16:4; Jer 24:10; Jer 32:24; Eze 8:18; Eze 14:21; Mic 3:4)
Lying Prophets
13Then 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.’” (Jer 4:10; Jer 6:14)14And 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. (De 18:20; Jer 5:31; Jer 23:21; Jer 23:26; Jer 27:9; Jer 27:15; Jer 29:8; Eze 13:6; Mt 7:15; Mr 13:22)15Therefore 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. (Jer 14:12; Jer 14:14; Jer 23:34)16And 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. (Ps 79:3)17“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. (Jer 8:21; Jer 10:19; Jer 13:17; Jer 30:12)18If 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.’” (Jer 5:31; Eze 7:15)19Have 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. (Jer 8:15; Jer 15:18; La 5:22)20We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord, and the iniquity of our fathers, for we have sinned against you. (Ps 106:6; Da 9:5; Da 9:8)21Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us. (Le 26:42; Ps 106:45; Jer 14:7)22Are 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. (De 32:21; Job 12:9; Job 28:26; Job 38:26; Job 38:28; Isa 66:2; Jer 10:15; Zec 10:1)