1 The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought.
2 Judah mourns, and the gates of it languish, they sit in black on the
ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. 3 Their nobles send their
little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they
return with their vessels empty; they are disappointed and confounded, and
cover their heads. 4 Because of the ground which is cracked, because no
rain has been in the land, the plowmen are disappointed, they cover their
heads. 5 Yes, the hind also in the field calves, and forsakes her
young, because there is no grass. 6 The wild donkeys stand on the bare
heights, they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no
herbage. 7 Though our iniquities testify against us, work you for your
name's sake, Yahweh; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned
against you. 8 You hope of Israel, the Savior of it in the time of
trouble, why should you be as a foreigner in the land, and as a wayfaring man
who turns aside to stay for a night? 9 Why should you be like a scared
man, as a mighty man who can't save? yet you, Yahweh, are in the midst
of us, and we are called by your name; don't leave us. 10 Thus says Yahweh
to this people, Even so have they loved to wander; they have not refrained
their feet: therefore Yahweh does not accept them; now will he remember their
iniquity, and visit their sins. 11 Yahweh said to me, Don't pray for this
people for their good. 12 When they fast, I will not hear their
cry; and when they offer burnt offering and meal-offering, I will not accept
them; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the
pestilence. 13 Then said I, Ah, Lord Yahweh! behold, the prophets tell
them, You shall not see the sword, neither shall you have famine;
but I will give you assured peace in this place. 14 Then Yahweh said to
me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I didn't send them, neither have I
commanded them, neither spoke I to them: they prophesy to you a lying vision,
and divination, and a thing of nothing, and the deceit of their own heart.
15 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the prophets who prophesy in my
name, and I didn't send them, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in
this land: By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. 16 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 on them. 17 You shall say this word to them, Let my 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
wound. 18 If I go forth into the field, then, behold, the slain with the
sword! and if I enter into the city, then, behold, those who are sick with
famine! for both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no
knowledge. 19 Have you utterly rejected Judah? has your soul loathed Zion?
why have you struck us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace,
but no good came; and for a time of healing, and, behold, dismay! 20 We
acknowledge, Yahweh, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers;
for we have sinned against you. 21 Do not abhor us, for your
name's sake; do not disgrace the throne of your glory: remember, don't break
your covenant with us. 22 Are there any among the vanities of the nations
that can cause rain? or can the sky give showers? Aren't you he, Yahweh our
God? therefore we will wait for you; for you have made all these things.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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