Destruction on the horizon

¹The LORD ’s word to Jeremiah concerning the droughts:

²Judah mourns;

her gates wither away.

The people fall to the ground in sorrow,

as sobs of Jerusalem ascend.

³The rich send their servants for water,

but the wells run dry.

They return with empty jars,

ashamed, bewildered, and in despair.

⁴Because the ground is cracked due to lack of rain,

the farmers too are ashamed;

they cover their heads.

⁵Even the doe in the field

abandons her newborn,

for there’s no grass.

⁶The wild donkeys stand on the well-traveled paths,

panting like thirsty dogs;

⁷Even though our sins testify against us,

help us, LORD , for your name’s sake.

We have turned away from you

and sinned against you time and again.

⁸You are the hope of Israel,

its savior in times of trouble.

Why are you like a stranger in the land,

like a tourist spending only the night?

⁹Why are you like one taken by surprise,

like a warrior unable to act?

Yet you are in our midst, LORD ;

we are called by your name.

Don’t give up on us.

¹⁰This is what the LORD proclaims about this people:

Since they have loved to wander off

and haven’t restrained themselves,

Now I will recall their wrongdoing

and punish their sin.

¹¹The LORD said to me: Don’t pray for the safety of these people.

¹²When they fast, I won’t pay attention to their pleas, and when they offer entirely burned offerings and grain offerings, I won’t accept them. Instead, I will devour them with war, famine, and disease.

¹³I replied, “LORD God, the prophets are telling them: ‘You won’t see war or famine, for I will give you lasting peace in this place.’”

¹⁴Then the LORD said to me: The prophets are telling lies in my name. I haven’t sent them. I haven’t commanded them. I haven’t spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, worthless predictions, and deceit they have made up on their own.

¹⁵Therefore, this is what the LORD proclaims concerning the prophets who are speaking in my name when I didn’t send them, and who are telling you that war or famine will never come to this land: Those very prophets will die in war and by famine!

¹⁶And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown into the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and war. There will be no one to bury them or their wives and children. I will pour out on them their own wickedness.

¹⁷So deliver this word to them:

My eyes well up with tears;

I can’t stop weeping—day and night,

because my virgin daughter, my people,

¹⁸If I go into the fields,

I see only the slain in battle.

If I enter the city,

I see only those suffering from famine.

Even both prophet and priest

wander about aimlessly in ignorance.

¹⁹Have you completely rejected Judah?

Do you hate Zion?

We look for peace,

for a time of healing,

²⁰We acknowledge our sin, LORD ,

the wrongdoing of our ancestors,

²¹For your name’s sake, don’t reject us,

don’t scorn your glorious throne.

Remember your covenant with us;

don’t break it.

²²Can any of the false gods of the nations make it rain?

Can the sky by itself bring showers?

Aren’t you the LORD , our God?

You are our hope,