|
Chapter 14 |
| 1 | The word of
the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth. |
| 2 | Judah
mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and
the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. |
| 3 | 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. |
| 4 | Because the ground is chapt, for there was no
rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.
|
| 5 | Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there
was no grass. |
|
6 | 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. |
| 7
| 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. |
| 8 |
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? |
| 9 | 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. |
| 10 | 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. |
| 11 | Then said
the LORD 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 an
oblation, 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 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 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. |
|
15 | 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. |
| 16
| 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. |
|
17 | 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. |
| 18 | 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. |
| 19 | 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! |
|
20 | We acknowledge, O LORD, our
wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against
thee. |
| 21 |
Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the
throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us. |
| 22 | 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. |
