Jeremiah 14

1 This is the LORD’s word that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts.

2 “Judah mourns, and its gates languish. They sit in black on the ground. The cry of Jerusalem goes up.

Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish, they bow down in black unto 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.

And their nobles send their lads for water: they come to the pits, and find no water; their vessels return empty; they are ashamed 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.

Because of the ground which is cracked, for there hath been no rain in the land, the plowmen are ashamed, they cover their heads.

5 Yes, the doe in the field also calves and forsakes her young, because there is no grass.

Yea, the hind also in the field calveth, and forsaketh 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 vegetation.

And the wild asses stand on the high hills, they gasp for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage.

7 Though our iniquities testify against us, work for your name’s sake, LORD; for our rebellions are many. We have sinned against you.

Though our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, work Thou for Thy name's sake; for our backslidings are many, we have sinned against Thee.

8 You hope of Israel, its Savior 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?

O Thou 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?

9 Why should you be like a scared man, as a mighty man who cannot save? Yet you, LORD, are in the middle of us, and we are called by your name. Do not leave us.

Why shouldest thou be as a man overcome, as a mighty man that cannot save? Yet Thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and Thy name is called upon us; leave us not.

10 The LORD says to this people: “Even so they have loved to wander. They have not restrained their feet. Therefore the LORD does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish them for their sins.”

Thus saith the LORD unto this people: Even so have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet; therefore the LORD doth not accept them, now will He remember their iniquity, and punish their sins.

11 The LORD said to me, “Do not pray for this people for their good.

And the LORD said unto me: 'Pray not 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, by famine, and by pestilence.”

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 I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, the prophets tell them, ‘You will not see the sword, neither will you have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.’”

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.'

14 Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in my name. I did not send them. I did not command them. I did not speak to them. They prophesy to you a lying vision, divination, and a thing of nothing, and the deceit of their own heart.

Then the LORD said unto me: 'The prophets prophesy lies in My name; I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke I unto them; they prophesy unto you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their own heart.

15 Therefore the LORD says concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, but I did not send them, yet they say, ‘Sword and famine will not be in this land.’ Those prophets will be consumed by sword and famine.

Therefore thus saith the LORD: As for 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;

16 The people to whom they prophesy will be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword. They will have no one to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, or their daughters, for I will pour their wickedness on them.

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 evil upon 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.

And 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.

18 If I go out into the field, then behold, the slain with the sword! 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.’”

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! For both the prophet and the priest are gone about to a land, and knew it not.

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!

Hast Thou utterly rejected Judah? Hath Thy soul loathed Zion? Why hast Thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and behold terror!

20 We acknowledge, LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against you.

We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, even the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against Thee.

21 Do not abhor us, for your name’s sake. Do not disgrace the throne of your glory. Remember, and do not break your covenant with us.

Do not contemn us, for Thy name's sake, do not dishonour the throne of Thy glory; remember, break not Thy covenant with us.

22 Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? Or can the sky give showers? Are not you he, the LORD our God? Therefore we will wait for you; for you have made all these things.

Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? Art not Thou He, O LORD our God, and do we not wait for Thee? For Thou hast made all these things.