Jeremiah 14
The Message about the
Drought |
1 |
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.
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2 |
Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof
languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem
is gone up.
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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.
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4 |
Because the ground is chapped, for there
was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered
their heads.
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5 |
Yea, the hind also calved in the field,
and forsook it, because there was no grass.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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9 |
Why shouldest thou be as a man
astonished, 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.
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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.
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11 |
Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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19 |
Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath
thy soul loathed 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!
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20 |
We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our
fathers: for we have sinned against thee.
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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.
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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.
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