1 ¶ The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought.

2 Judah mourns, and its gates languish; the people sit on the ground in mourning; and the cry of Jerusalem goes up.

3 Their nobles send their servants for water: and they go to the cisterns, but find no water; so they return with their vessels empty; ashamed and disappointed, they cover their heads.

4 Because the ground is parched, for lack of rain in the land, the farmers are ashamed, and cover their heads.

5 Yes, even the doe in the field gives birth, and abandons her young, because there is no grass.

6 And the wild donkeys stand on the bare hills, wheezing for air like dragons; their eyes fail, because there is no grass.

7 O LORD, although our iniquities testify against us, act for your name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; and we have sinned against you.

8 You are the hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, and like a traveler who turns aside to stop for a night?

9 Why should you be like a man who is stunned, like a mighty man who cannot save? yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not abandon us.

10 ¶ The LORD says to this people, Truly they love to wander, they have not restrained their feet, therefore the LORD does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins.

11 Then the LORD said to me, Do not pray for good for these people.

12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offerings and food, I will not accept them: but I will destroy them with the sword, and famine, and disease.

13 Then I said, O, Lord GOD! the prophets are telling them, You will not see the sword, or suffer famine; but I will certainly give you peace in this place.

14 Then the LORD said to me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I did not send them, nor have I given them orders, or spoken to them: they prophesy to you a false vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own heart.

15 Therefore the LORD says this concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, when I did not send them, and say, Sword and famine will not be in this land; Those prophets will be consumed by sword and famine.

16 And the people to whom they prophesy will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they will have no one to bury them, not their wives, or their sons, or their daughters: for I will pour out their wickedness upon them.

17 ¶ Therefore you shall say this to them; Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, without stopping: because the virgin daughter of my people has been destroyed by a great disaster, with a very severe blow.

18 If I go out into the field, then I see those slain with the sword! and if I enter the city, then I see those who are sick with famine! yea, both prophet and priest will wander about in a land that they do not recognize.

19 Have you utterly rejected Judah? do you detest Zion? why have you wounded us, when there is no healing for us? we look for peace, but nothing good comes; and for a time of healing, and see only trouble!

20 We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, and the sin of our fathers: for we have sinned against you.

21 For your name’s sake, do not hate us, do not disgrace the throne of your glory: remember your covenant with us, and do not break it.

22 Are there any among the imaginary gods of the Gentiles who can cause rain? or does the sky produce rain? no it is you, O LORD our God? therefore we will trust in you: for you have made all these things.