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¹ The word of the LORD that came to Yirmeyahu concerning the drought. ² Yehudah mourns, and the gates of it languish, they sit in black on the ground; and the cry of Yerushalayim 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 put to shame 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 put to shame, they cover their heads. ⁵ Yes, the hind also in the field calves, and forsakes [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 herbage. ⁷ Though our iniquities testify against us, work you for your name's sake, LORD; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. ⁸ You hope of Yisra'el, the Savior of it in the time of trouble, why should you be as a sojourner in the land, and as a wayfaring man who turns aside to stay for a night? ⁹ Why should you be like a scared man, as a mighty man who can't save? yet you, LORD, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; don't leave us.

¹⁰ Thus says the LORD to this people, Even so have they loved to wander; they have not refrained their feet: therefore the LORD does not accept them; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. ¹¹ The LORD said to me, Don't pray 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, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. ¹³ Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets tell them, You shall not see the sword, neither shall you have famine; but I will give you assured shalom in this place. ¹⁴ Then the LORD said to me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I didn't send them, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke I to them: they prophesy to you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nothing, and the deceit of their own heart. ¹⁵ Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, and I didn't send them, 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 shall be cast out in the streets of Yerushalayim 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 on 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. ¹⁸ If I go forth into the field, then, behold, the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then, behold, those who are sick with famine! for both the prophet and the Kohen go about in the land, and have no knowledge. ¹⁹ Have you utterly rejected Yehudah? has your soul loathed Tziyon? why have you struck us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for shalom, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and, behold, dismay! ²⁰ We acknowledge, LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against you. ²¹ Do not abhor [us], for your name's sake; do not disgrace the throne of your glory: remember, don't break your covenant with us. ²² Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the sky give showers? Aren't you he, the LORD our God? therefore we will wait for you; for you have made all these things.