14:1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.
14:2 Judah mourneth, and her gates languish; they are black to the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
14:3 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.
14:4 Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain on the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.
14:5 Yes, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.
14:6 And the wild asses stood in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyesfailed, because there was no grass.
14:7 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.
14:8 O the hope of Israel, his Savior in time of trouble, why shouldst thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a way- faring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?
14:9 Why shouldst thou be as a man astonished, 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.
14:10 Thus saith the LORD to this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not restrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
14:11 Then said the LORD to me, Pray not for this people for their good.
14:12 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.
14:13 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say to them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.
14:14 Then the LORD said to me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I have not sent them, neither have I commanded them, neither spoken to them: they prophesy to you a false vision and divination, and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart.
14:15 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.
14:16 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.
14:17 Therefore thou shalt say this word to them; Let my eyesrun down with tearsnight and day, and let them not cease: for the virgindaughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.
14:18 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! yes, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.
14:19 Hast thou utterly rejectedJudah? hath thy soul loathed 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!
14:20 We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against thee.
14:21 Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake; do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.
14:22 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.
