1 THE word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.
2 Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
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.
4 Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.
5 Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.
6 And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.
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.
8 O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?
9 Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, 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.
10 Thus saith the Lord unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the Lord doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
11 Then said the Lord unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.
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.
13 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.
14 Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
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.
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.
17 Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine 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 blow.
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! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.
19 Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed 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!
20 We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.
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.
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.

1The word of the Lord that came to Ieremiah concerning the dearth.

2Iudah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish, they are blacke vnto the ground, and the crie of Ierusalem is gone vp.

3And their nobles haue sent their litle ones to the waters, they came to the pits and found no water, they returned with the vessels emptie: they were ashamed and confounded, and couered their heads.

4Because the ground is chapt, for there was no raine in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they couered their heads.

5Yea the hinde also calued in the field, and forsooke it, because there was no grasse.

6And the wilde asses did stand in the hie places, they snuffed vp the winde like dragons: their eyes did faile because there was no grasse.

7 O Lord, though our iniquities testifie against vs, doe thou it for thy Names sake: for our back-slidings are many, we haue sinned against thee.

8O the hope of Israel, the Sauiour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man, that turneth aside to tarie for a night?

9Why shouldest thou bee as a man astonied, as a mightie man that cannot saue? yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of vs, and we are called by thy Name, leaue vs not.

10 Thus saith the Lord vnto this people, Thus haue they loued to wander, they haue not refrained their feete, therefore the Lord doeth not accept them, hee will now remember their iniquitie, and visite their sinnes.

11Then said the Lord vnto mee, Pray not for this people, for their good.

12When they fast I will not heare their crie, and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation I wil 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 say vnto them; Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye haue famine, but I will giue you assured peace in this place.

14Then the Lord said vnto me, The prophets prophecie lies in my Name, I sent them not, neither haue I commanded them, neither spake vnto them: they prophecie vnto you a false vision and diuination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

15Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that prophecie 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.

16And the people to whom they prophecie, shall be cast out in the streets of Ierusalem, because of the famine and the sword, and they shall haue none to burie them, them, their wiues, nor their sonnes, nor their daughters: for I will powre their wickednesse vpon them.

17 Therefore thou shalt say this word vnto them, Let mine eies runne downe with teares night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grieuous blow.

18If I goe forth into the field, then behold the slaine with the sword, and if I enter into the citie, then behold them that are sicke with famine, yea both the prophet and the priest goe about into a land that they know not.

19Hast thou vtterly reiected Iudah? hath thy soule loathed Zion? why hast thou smitten vs, and there is no healing for vs? we looked for peace, and there is no good, and for the time of healing, and behold trouble.

20We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickednes, and the iniquitie of our fathers: for wee haue sinned against thee.

21Do not abhorre vs, for thy Names sake, doe not disgrace the Throne of thy glorie: remember, breake not thy Couenant with vs.

22Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause raine? or can the heauens giue showres, Art not thou he, O Lord our God? therefore we will waite vpon thee: for thou hast made all these things.

II == 1st Sam 5:12 ; Isa 3:26 ; Jer 8:21

III == 2nd Sam 15:30 ; Ps 40:14

VI == Jer 2:24

VII == Ps 25:11

VIII == Jer 17:13

IX == Ex 29:4-5 , 46 : Lev 26:11-12 ; Isa 59:1 ; Dan 9:18-19

X == Jer 2:23-25 ; Hos 8:13 ; 9:9

XI == Ex 32:10 ; Jer 7:16 ; 11:14

XII == Prov 1:28 ; Isa 1:15 ; 58:3 ; Jer 6:20 ; 7:21 -22 ; 9:16 ; 11:11 ; Ezek 8:18 ; Mic 3:4 ; Zech 7:13

XIII == Jer 4:10

XIV == Jer 23:21 ; 27:10 , 15 ; 29:8-9

XV == Jer 5:12

XVI == Ps 79:3

XVII == Jer 8:21 ; 9:1 ; 13:17 ; Lam 1:16 ; 2:18

XVIII == Jer 5:31 ; Ezek 7:15

XIX == Jer 8:15 ; 15:18 ; Lam 5:22

XX == Ps 106:6 ; Dan 9:8

XXI == Ps 74:2 , 20 ; 106:45

XXII == Ex 32:11-12 ; Deut 32:21 ; 1st Sam 7:9 ; Ps 99:6 ; 135:7 ; 147:8 ; Isa 30:23 ; Jer 5:24 ; 10:13 ; Ezek 14:14 ; Zech 10:1-2

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

2 Judah mourns, her gates are lifeless; Her people sink down in mourning: from Jerusalem ascends a cry of anguish.

3 The nobles send their servants for water, but when they come to the cisterns They find no water and return with empty jars. Ashamed, despairing, they cover their heads

4 because of the stricken soil; Because there is no rain in the land the farmers are ashamed, they cover their heads.

5 Even the hind in the field deserts her offspring because there is no grass.

6 The wild asses stand on the bare heights, gasping for breath like jackals; Their eyes grow dim, because there is no vegetation to be seen.

7 Even though our crimes bear witness against us, take action, O LORD, for the honor of your name - Even though our rebellions are many, though we have sinned against you.

8 O Hope of Israel, O LORD, our savior in time of need! Why should you be a stranger in this land, like a traveler who has stopped but for a night?

9 Why are you like a man dumbfounded, a champion who cannot save? You are in our midst, O LORD, your name we bear: do not forsake us!

10 Thus says the LORD of this people: They so love to wander that they do not spare their feet. The LORD has no pleasure in them; now he remembers their guilt, and will punish their sins.

11 Then the LORD said to me: Do not intercede for this people.

12 If they fast, I will not listen to their supplication. If they offer holocausts or cereal offerings, I will not accept them. Rather, I will destroy them with the sword, famine, and pestilence.

13 Ah! Lord GOD, I replied, it is the prophets who say to them, "You shall not see the sword; famine shall not befall you. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place."

14 Lies these prophets utter in my name, the LORD said to me. I did not send them; I gave them no command nor did I speak to them. Lying visions, foolish divination, dreams of their own imagination, they prophesy to you.

15 Therefore, thus says the LORD: Concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, though I did not send them; who say, "Sword and famine shall not befall this land": by the sword and famine shall these prophets meet their end.

16 The people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out into the streets of Jerusalem by famine and the sword. No one shall bury them, their wives, their sons, or their daughters, for I will pour out upon them their own wickedness.

17 Speak to them this word: Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest, Over the great destruction which overwhelms the virgin daughter of my people, over her incurable wound.

18 If I walk out into the field, look! those slain by the sword; If I enter the city, look! those consumed by hunger. Even the prophet and the priest forage in a land they know not.

19 Have you cast Judah off completely? Is Zion loathsome to you? Why have you struck us a blow that cannot be healed? We wait for peace, to no avail; for a time of healing, but terror comes instead.

20 We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness, the guilt of our fathers; that we have sinned against you.

21 For your name's sake spurn us not, disgrace not the throne of your glory; remember your covenant with us, and break it not.

22 Among the nations' idols is there any that gives rain? Or can the mere heavens send showers? Is it not you alone, O LORD, our God, to whom we look? You alone have done all these things.

v 1-4. Judah was suffering from drouth. Those who had forsaken Living Water in 2:13 are now suffering from literal dry cisterns.

v 5,6. Wild animals suffered from the drouth, even being forced to leave babies.

v 7-9. The people admit their suffering is because of sin and ask God not to treat them like a stranger because they are called by His name.

v 10-12. God knew this was a superficial confession and again told Jeremiah not to even pray for them. God would not be bought off by sacrifices but would judge.

v 13-16. False prophets contradicted Jeremiah’s message, but God points out they are prophesying lies. They will be destroyed along with all those who listened.

v 17,18. Jeremiah is to tell the people of his great sorrow and weeping for the great distress. Those in city would die of famine, those in the country by the sword.

v 19-22. The people admit they had sinned and that the idols they worshiped could not cause rain. They remind God of His covenant, but they have ignored it. They have come in distress instead of true repentance, so God will not answer nationally, but He will preserve a believing remnant.