The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 14 Jeremiah intercedes for the people in vain

 The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 14

Jeremiah intercedes for the people in vain

1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the great drought.

2 Judah mourns, and her gates languish; they mourn down to the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem goes up.

3 Even her nobles send their little ones to fetch water; they return with empty pitchers; they are ashamed and confounded, and cover their heads.

4 Because the ground is cracked open, for there is no rain on the land, the farmers are ashamed and cover their heads.

5 For even the hinds in the field give birth and abandon their young, because there is no grass.

6 Even the wild donkeys stand on the high places; they pant for air like dragons; their eyes fail because there is no grass. 

7 Though our iniquities testify against us, O Lord, act for the sake of your name; for our rebellions are many; we have sinned against you.

8 O hope of Israel, and its Redeemer in the time of trouble! Why should you be like a stranger in the land? And like a traveler who stays only for the night?

9 Why should you be like a weary man, like a mighty man who cannot deliver? But you are in our midst, O Lord, and we are called by your name; do not forsake us.

10 Thus says the Lord concerning this people: Because they have loved to turn away, and have not restrained their feet, therefore the Lord does not delight in them; but now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.

11 Then the Lord said to me: Do not pray for the good of this people.

12 When they fast, I will not listen to their cry; when they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will consume them by the sword, famine, and plague.

13 Then I said, “Ah, Lord, Lord! Behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you true peace in this place.’”

14 And the Lord said to me, “The prophets prophesy falsely in my name. I have not sent them, nor have I commanded them, nor have I spoken to them. They are prophesying false visions and divinations to you.”

15 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, though I did not send them, and say, ‘Neither sword nor famine shall come to this land’: Those prophets shall be consumed by the sword and by famine.

16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of famine and sword; And there will be no one to bury their wives, their sons, and their daughters; thus I will pour out their wickedness upon them.

17 Therefore you shall say this word to them: Let my eyes overflow with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people is wounded with a great wound, with a very grievous sore.

18 If I go out into the field, behold, those slain by the sword; and if I enter the city, there are those weakened by famine; even the prophets and the priests have run about the land, and they know nothing.

19 Have you utterly rejected Judah? Or does your soul abhor Zion? Why have you struck us, and there is no healing for us? We look for peace, but no good comes; and for a time of healing, but behold, turmoil.

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

21 Do not reject us for the sake of your name; do not bring down the throne of your glory; remember, and do not break your covenant with us.

22 Is there any among the idols of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not you alone, O Lord our God? Therefore we put our trust in you, for you do all these things.