Jeremiah Chapter 14
1 A Message from Yahveh to Jeremiah
About the Drought
2 “In Judah’s towns,
commerce has died off at their gates;
the people sit on the ground mourning;
their outcry goes up from Jerusalem.
3 Nobles send servants to draw water,
but the cisterns are dry.
They come back with empty pots,
demoralized and covering their heads.
Jer 14:1-3
4 The ground is cracked
because there’s been no rain;
farmers are demoralized, too, and cover their heads.
5 Does out in the country
are abandoning their newborn fawns
because there’s no grass.
6 Donkeys stand on the barren hills
and pant for air like jackals;
their eyes are blurry
because there’s no grass.”
Jer 14:4-6
7 The people say,
“Although our iniquities show that we’re guilty, Yahveh,
at least do something for your reputation.
Yes, we’re guilty of countless apostasies;
we’ve sinned against you.
8 Israel’s Hope, our Savior in distress,
why are you acting like a foreigner here to us
or a traveler just pitching his tent for the night?
9 Why are you like someone overwhelmed,
like a strong man that can’t rescue?
Yet you’re among us, Yahveh;
we’re identified with you;
don’t abandon us!”
Jer 14:7-9
10 Yahveh answers,
“They like to wander;
they don’t watch where they’re going.
So I don’t accept them as mine;
I remember their iniquity
and take account of their sins.”
Jer 14:10
11 Yahveh told me, “Don’t pray for them. 12 I’ll ignore their outcry when they fast. When they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I won’t accept them. I’ll put an end to them with sword, famine, and disease.”
13But I said, “Lord Yahveh, the prophets are telling them they won’t see sword or famine, that you’ll give them lasting peace here.”
14 He answered, “The prophets are prophesying falsely in my name. I haven’t spoken to them. They’re prophesying false visions, worthless fortunetelling, the deceptions in their own minds. 15 Though I haven’t sent them, they keep saying there won’t be sword or famine here. So they’ll meet their end by sword and famine! 16 The people they’re prophesying to will be victims thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem. There won’t be anybody to bury them, their wives, or children. I’ll pour out their own wickedness on them.
Jer 14:11-16
17“Tell them this,
‘My eyes flow with tears
day and night without end
because the young virgin—my people—
has been struck a powerful blow;
she has a severely infected wound.
18 If I go out in the country,
there are corpses slain by the sword.
If I go in the city,
there’s famine and disease
because prophet and priest ply their trade in the land
and they don’t know what they’re doing.’”
Jer 14:17-18
A Prayer for Healing
19 Have you completely rejected Judah?
Do you despise Zion?
Why wound us so bad we can’t heal?
We waited for peace, but nothing good came;
we hoped for healing, but terror came instead!
20 We know we’re ungodly, Yahveh;
we know about our ancestors’ sin;
we’ve sinned against you too.
21 For your own reputation, don’t despise us;
don’t bring disgrace on your glorious throne
or annul your covenant with us.
22 Can any nation’s idols bring rain?
Can the sky grant showers?
Isn’t that from you, Yahveh our God?
So we’re putting our hope in you
because you can do that.
Jer 14:19-22