The word of the LORD
that came to Jeremiah
concerning
the dearth
.
Judah mourneth
, and the gates
thereof languish
; they are black
unto the ground
; and the cry
of Jerusalem
is gone up
.
And 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
.
Because the ground is chapt
, for there was no rain
in the earth
, the plowmen
were ashamed
, they covered
their heads
.
Yea, the hind also calved
in the field
, and forsook
it , because there was no grass
.
And 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
.
O LORD, though our iniquities
testify
against us, do
thou it for thy name's
sake: for our backslidings
are many
; we have sinned
against thee.
O 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
?
Why 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.
Thus 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
.
Then said the LORD
unto me, Pray
not for this people
for their good
.
When 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
.
Then 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
.
Then 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
.
Therefore 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
.
And 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.
Therefore 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
.
If 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.
Hast 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
!
We acknowledge, O LORD
, our wickedness
, and the iniquity
of our fathers
: for we have sinned
against thee.
Do not abhor us , for thy name's
sake, do not disgrace
the throne
of thy glory
: remember
, break
not thy covenant
with us.
Are 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 .