Jeremiah

The Drought

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

Judah mourns, and the cities languish, desolate and sinking to the ground. A cry is heard from Jerusalem.

The wealthy sent the poor for water, but they found none at the cisterns and returned with empty vessels.

The soil is cracked because there has been no rain in the land; the farmers are discouraged. and have covered their heads like mourners.

Even the doe in the fields abandons her newborn calf because there is no pasture.

The wild donkeys stand on the heights sniffing the air like jackals and languish as they find not even a thistle!

Even if our faults accuse us, you, the Lord, work for the glory of your name. In truth, many have been our rebellions, and great is our sin against you.

O Lord! Hope of Israel, you who save during times of distress, why do you appear like a stranger in this land, like a traveler only stopping for one night?

Why should you seem bewildered, like a warrior unable to save? But you are here among us, Lord, and your name has been called upon us. Do not abandon us!

This is what the Lord says about these people: “They like to wander here and there, not stopping for a moment, so the Lord takes no pleasure in them; he remembers their wickedness and will punish their sins.”

Intercession and False Prophets

And the Lord said: “Do not pray for the well-being of this people!

If they fast, I will not listen to their cry; if they offer me burnt offerings and oblations, I will not accept them. Instead, I will put an end to them with sword, famine, and plague.

And I said: “Ah, Lord God! You know what the prophets are telling them: ‘You will not see the sword nor suffer famine because I will give you true peace in this place.’”

But the Lord said: “These prophets have spoken untruths in my name. I did not send them, nor did I instruct or speak to them. They prophesy false visions, worthless divinations, and illusions of their own mind.”

And the Lord added: “These prophets whom I did not send and who prophesy in my name, saying that the sword and famine will not touch this land —these same prophets will perish by the sword and famine.

As for the people listening to them, their bodies will be thrown into the streets of Jerusalem. There will be no one to bury them or their wives, their sons, or daughters when they die of famine or by the sword. For I will cause their own malice to fall upon them.

This is what you will tell them: Let my eyes shed tears day and night without stopping! For with a great wound, the virgin daughter of my people has been wounded, a very deep wound.

If I enter the country, I see those murdered by the sword. If I enter the city, I see the destruction caused by famine. For the prophet and the priest did not understand what was happening in the land.

Have you truly rejected Judah forever? Do you despise Zion? Why have you wounded us and left us hopeless? We looked for salvation but found none; we waited for healing, yet terror came upon us!

Lord, we acknowledge our wickedness, that of our ancestors, and the times we have sinned against you.

For your name’s sake, do not despise us; do not dishonor the throne of your glory. Remember us. Do not break your covenant with us!

Among the worthless idols of the nations, are there any who can bring rain or make the skies send showers? We put our hope only in you, Lord our God, for it is you who does all this.