Famine, Sword, and Pestilence

1The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:

2“Judah mourns

and her gates languish;

her people lament on the ground,

and the cry of Jerusalem goes up.

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.

4Because of the ground that is dismayed,

since there is no rain on the land,

the farmers are ashamed;

they cover their heads.

5Even the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn

because there is no grass.

6The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights;

they pant for air like jackals;

their eyes fail

because there is no vegetation.

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.

8O you hope of Israel,

its saviour in time of trouble,

why should you be like a stranger in the land,

like a traveller who turns aside to tarry for a night?

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.”

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.”

11The LORD said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. 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.”

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.’ ” 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. 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. 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.

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.

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.’ ”

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.

20We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD,

and the iniquity of our fathers,

for we have sinned against you.

21Do not spurn us, for your name's sake;

do not dishonour your glorious throne;

remember and do not break your covenant with us.

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.