Jeremiah 14 — Septuagint (LXX)

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

Judah mourns; her gates languish to the ground. They sit in darkness on the earth, and the cry of Jerusalem rises up.

Their nobles send their servants to the cisterns; they come to the pits and find no water. They return with their vessels empty, ashamed and humiliated, covering their heads.

Because the ground is cracked, for there has been no rain on the land, the farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.

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

Wild donkeys stand on the bare heights, gasping for air like jackals; their eyes grow dim because there is no vegetation.

Though our iniquities testify against us, act, LORD, for the sake of your name. For our acts of turning away are many — we have sinned against you.

O Hope of Israel, its Savior in time of distress — why are you like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who turns aside only to spend the night?

Why are you like someone stunned, like a warrior who cannot save? Yet you are in our midst, LORD, and your name has been called over us — do not abandon us!

This is what the LORD says concerning this people: They have loved to wander; they have not restrained their feet. So the LORD takes no pleasure in them. Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.

Then the LORD said to me: Do not pray for this people for their welfare.

When they fast, I will not listen to their cry. When they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. Instead, I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by plague.

Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Look — the prophets are telling them, 'You will not see the sword, and famine will not come upon you, for I will give you lasting peace in this place.'"

Then the LORD said to me: The prophets are prophesying falsehood in my name. I did not send them, I did not command them, and I did not speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own hearts.

Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name though I did not send them, who say, 'Sword and famine will not come upon this land' — by the sword and by famine those very prophets will meet their end.

And the people to whom they prophesy will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of famine and the sword, with no one to bury them — they, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. I will pour out their own wickedness upon them.

And you will speak this word to them: Let my eyes flow with tears night and day without stopping, for the virgin daughter of my people is shattered with a great wound, a grievous blow.

If I go out to the field — there lie those slain by the sword. If I enter the city — there are those wasting from famine. For both prophet and priest wander through a land they do not know.

Have you utterly rejected Judah? Does your soul loathe Zion? Why have you struck us with no healing for us? We hoped for peace — but nothing good came. We hoped for a time of healing — but there is only terror.

We acknowledge our wickedness, LORD, the iniquity of our ancestors — for we have sinned against you.

Do not despise us, for your name's sake! Do not dishonor the throne of your glory. Remember — do not break your covenant with us.

Can any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Can the heavens themselves give showers? Is it not you alone, LORD our God? We set our hope on you, for you have made all these things.