Jeremiah 14

The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah concerning the drought. Judah mourned, the ground was parched, and even the deer abandoned their young. The LORD told Jeremiah not to pray for the people's good, and He rejected their fasts and offerings. The prophets who prophesied peace would themselves be consumed by sword and famine.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.	This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:
2	Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.	"Judah mourns and its gates droop. The people sink to the ground in mourning, and the cry of Jerusalem goes up.
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.	The nobles send their servants for water. They go to the cisterns but find no water. They return with empty jars. In shame and misery they cover their heads.
4	Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.	The ground is cracked because there is no rain in the land. The farmers are dismayed and cover their heads.
5	Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.	Even the doe in the field deserts her newborn fawn because there is no grass.
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.	Wild donkeys stand on the bare heights and pant for air like jackals. Their eyes grow dim because there is no food."
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.	Although our iniquities testify against us, LORD, act for the sake of Your name. Our unfaithfulness has been great. We have sinned against You.
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?	You are the hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress. Why should You be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who only stays the night?
9	Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, 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.	Why are You like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior who cannot save? You are among us, LORD, and we bear Your name. Do not forsake us!
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.	This is what the LORD says about this people: "They love to wander. They have not held back their feet. So the LORD does not accept them. He will now remember their iniquity and punish their sins."
11	Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.	Then the LORD said to me, "Do not pray for the good of this people.
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.	Even if they fast, I will not listen to their cry. Even if they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead I will destroy them by sword, famine, and plague."
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.	I replied, "Ah, Lord GOD! The prophets keep telling them, 'You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give You lasting peace in this place.'"
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 I unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.	The LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to You false visions, worthless divinations, and the delusions of their own minds.
15	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.	Therefore this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in My name but whom I did not send — and who say 'No sword or famine will touch this land': Those same prophets will die by sword and famine.
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.	And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of famine and the sword. There will be no one to bury them, their wives, their sons, or their daughters. I will pour on them the calamity they deserve.
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.	"Speak this word to them: 'Let my eyes flow with tears night and day without stopping, for the virgin daughter of my people has suffered a crushing blow — a very serious wound.
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.	If I go out into the countryside, I see those killed by the sword. If I go into the city, I see the ravages of famine. Both prophet and priest have gone to a land they do not know.'"
19	Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed 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!	Have You completely rejected Judah? Do You despise Zion? Why have You struck us down with no healing for us? We hoped for peace but found no good. We hoped for a time of healing but found only terror.
20	We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.	We acknowledge our wickedness, LORD — the iniquity of our fathers — for we have sinned against You.
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.	For the sake of Your name, do not reject us. Do not dishonor Your glorious throne. Remember Your covenant with us — do not break it.
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.	Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No — it is You, LORD our God. So our hope is in You, for You are the one who does all this.