¶ The word¹ of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth².

Judah mourneth³, and the gates⁴ thereof languish; they⁵ are black unto the ground; and the cry⁶ of Jerusalem is gone up.

And their nobles⁷ have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits⁸, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were⁹ ashamed and confounded, and covered¹⁰ their heads.

Because the ground¹¹ is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen¹² were ashamed, they covered their heads.

¹³Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.

And the wild¹⁴ asses did stand in the high places, they¹⁵ snuffed up the wind like dragons; their¹⁶ eyes did fail, because there was no grass.

O LORD, though¹⁷ our iniquities testify against us, do¹⁸ thou it for thy name's sake: for our¹⁹ backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.

O the hope²⁰ of Israel, the saviour²¹ thereof in time²² of trouble, why²³ shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring²⁴ man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?

Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot²⁵ save? yet thou, O LORD, art²⁶ in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name²⁷; leave²⁸ us not.

¶ Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they²⁹ loved to wander, they have not refrained³⁰ their feet, therefore the LORD³¹ doth not accept them; he will³² now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.

³³Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.

When they fast³⁴, I will not hear their cry; and when³⁵ they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but³⁶ I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.

Then said I, Ah³⁷, Lord GOD! behold,³⁸ the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace³⁹ in this place.

Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets⁴⁰ prophesy lies in my name: I sent⁴¹ them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination⁴², and a thing of nought, and the⁴³ deceit of their heart.

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 not⁴⁴ be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.

And the people⁴⁵ to whom they prophesy shall be cast⁴⁶ 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: for⁴⁷ I will pour their wickedness upon them.

¶ Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine⁴⁸ eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for⁴⁹ the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very⁵⁰ grievous blow.

If I go forth⁵¹ 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,⁵² both the prophet and the priest go about⁵³ into a land that they know not.

Hast thou utterly⁵⁴ rejected Judah? hath⁵⁵ thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing⁵⁶ for us? we⁵⁷ looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!

¶ We acknowledge⁵⁸, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for⁵⁹ we have sinned against thee.

Do not abhor⁶⁰ us, for⁶¹ thy name's sake, do not disgrace⁶² the throne of thy glory: remember⁶³, break not thy covenant with us.

Are⁶⁴ there any among the vanities⁶⁵ of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art⁶⁶ not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait⁶⁷ upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.