The Severe Drought

¹ That which came as the word of Yahweh to Jeremiah concerning the matter¹ of the severe drought.

1. Hebrew “matters”

² “Judah mourns, and her gates languish, they are in mourning on the ground, and the cry of lament of Jerusalem goes up.

³ And their nobles send their servants for water. They come to the pits, they find no water. They return with their vessels ⌞empty⌟.¹ They are ashamed, and they are confounded, and they cover their heads.²

1. Literally “without success”
2. Hebrew “head”

⁴ Because of the ground, which is cracked because there was no rain on the ground. The farmers are ashamed, they cover their heads.¹

1. Hebrew “head”

⁵ For even the doe in the field gives birth and forsakes her young,¹ because there is no green growth.

1. Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

⁶ And wild asses stand on the barren heights, they gasp for breath like the jackals. Their eyes fail because there is no vegetation.”

⁷ Although our iniquities testify against us, O Yahweh, act for the sake of your name. Yes, our apostasies are many; we have sinned against you.

⁸ You are the hope of Israel, its savior in time of distress. Why should you be like an alien in the land, or like a traveler who spreads out his tent¹ to spend the night?

1. Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

⁹ Why should you be like a confused man, like a warrior who is not able to help? Yet you are in our midst, O Yahweh, and your name is called upon us. You must not leave us!

¹⁰ Thus says Yahweh concerning this people: “They have loved so much to wander, they have not spared their feet. Therefore Yahweh is not favorable to them, now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.”

Lying Prophets

¹¹ So Yahweh said to me, “You must not pray for this people, for their happiness.¹

1. Or “good”

¹² Although they fast, I am not listening to their cry of entreaty. And although they present burnt offering and grain offering, I am not favorable to them. But by the sword, and by the famine, and by the plague, I am about to destroy them.”

¹³ Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh, look, the prophets are saying to them, ‘You will not see the sword, and famine will not be yours, but reliable peace I will give to you in this place.’ ”

¹⁴ And Yahweh said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies¹ in my name. I have not sent them, and I have not commanded them, and I have not spoken to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, and a divination, worthless, and the deceitfulness of their ⌞minds⌟.”²

1. Hebrew “lie”
2. Literally “heart”

¹⁵ ⌞Therefore⌟¹ thus says Yahweh concerning the prophets who prophecy in my name though I have not sent them, yet they are saying, “Sword and famine will not be in this land.” “By the sword and by the famine those prophets will perish.

1. Literally “To thus”

¹⁶ And the people to whom they are prophesying will be cast out into the streets of Jerusalem ⌞because of⌟¹ the famine and the sword. And there will be no one who buries them, their wives, or their sons, or their daughters. And I will pour out on them their wickedness.

1. Literally “from the face of”

The Nation Hopes in Yahweh

¹⁷ “And you shall say to them this word, ‘Let my eyes melt with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for with a great wound the virgin daughter of my people is broken, with a very incurable wound.

¹⁸ If I go out into the field, then look, those slain by the sword. And if I enter the city, then look, the sickness of the famine. For both prophet and priest wander around through the land, ⌞they do not know what is going on⌟.’ ”¹

1. Literally “and not they know”

¹⁹ Have you completely rejected Judah? Or has your soul¹ loathed Zion? Why have you struck us so that there is no healing for us? We hope for peace, but there is no good, and for a time of healing, but look, there is terror.

1. Or “inner self”

²⁰ We know, O Yahweh, our wickedness, the iniquity of our ancestors,¹ for we have sinned against you.

1. Or “fathers”

²¹ You must not spurn us¹ for the sake of your name, you must not dishonor ⌞your glorious throne⌟.² Remember us!³ You must not break your covenant with us.

1. Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
2. Literally “the throne of your glory”
3. Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

²² Are there any among the idols of the nation who cause rain to pour? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not you, O Yahweh our God? Therefore, we hope in you, for you do all these things.