Jeremiah 14

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah on the occasion of the drought.	1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:
2 'Judah is in mourning, her towns are pining, sinking to the ground; a cry goes up from Jerusalem.	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, they come to the water-tanks, find no water, and return withtheir pitchers empty. Dismayed and bewildered, they cover their heads.	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 the soil is al cracked since the country has had no rain; the farmers are dismayed, they covertheir 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 doe in the countryside giving birth abandons her young, for there is no grass;	5 Even the hind in the field deserts her offspring because there is no grass.
6 the wild donkeys standing on the bare heights gasp for air like jackals: their eyes grow dim for lack ofpasture.'	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 Although our sins witness against us, Yahweh, for your name's sake, intervene! Yes, our acts ofinfidelity have been many, we have sinned against you!	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 Yahweh, hope of Israel, its Saviour in time of distress, why are you like a stranger in this country, like atravel er staying only for one night?	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 someone bemused, like a warrior who has no power to rescue? And yet, Yahweh,you are among us, we are called by your name. Do not desert us!	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 Yahweh says this about this people, 'They take such pleasure in darting hither and thither, theycannot restrain their feet! But Yahweh takes pleasure in them no longer; now he wil keep their guilt in mind andpunish their sins.'	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 Yahweh then said to me, 'Do not intercede for this people or their welfare.	11 Then the LORD said to me: Do not intercede for this people.
12 If they fast, I wil not listen to their plea; if they offer burnt offerings and cereal offerings I wil notaccept them. Rather, I shal make an end of them by sword, famine and plague.'	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 Yahweh,' I answered, 'here are the prophets telling them, "You will not see the sword,famine wil not touch you; I promise you true peace in this place." '	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 Then Yahweh said to me, 'The prophets are prophesying lies in my name; I have not sent them, Igave them no orders, I never spoke to them. Delusive visions, hol ow predictions, daydreams of their own, that iswhat they prophesy to you.	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, Yahweh says this: The prophets who prophesy in my name when I have not sent them,and tel you there will be no sword or famine in this country, these same prophets will meet their end by swordand famine.	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 And as for the people to whom they prophesy, they wil be tossed into the streets of Jerusalem,victims of famine and the sword, with not a soul to bury them: neither them nor their wives, nor their sons, northeir daughters. I shall pour their own wickedness down on them.	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 'So say this word to them: May my eyes shed tears night and day, unceasingly, since the daughter ofmy people has sustained a fearsome wound, a crippling injury.	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 go into the countryside, there lie those killed by the sword; if I go into the city, I see people torturedwith hunger; even prophets and priests roam the country at their wits' end.'	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 rejected Judah altogether? Does your very soul revolt at Zion? Why have you struck usdown without hope of cure? We were hoping for peace -- no good came of it! For the moment of cure -- nothingbut terror!	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 Yahweh, we acknowledge our wickedness and our ancestors' guilt: we have indeed sinned againstyou.	20 We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness, the guilt of our fathers; that we have sinned against you.
21 For your name's sake do not reject us, do not dishonour the throne of your glory. Remember us; donot break your covenant with us.	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 Can any of the nations' Futile Ones make it rain? Can the heavens of their own accord give showers?Are you not the one, Yahweh our God? In you is our hope, since you make al these things.	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.