预言旱灾
1耶和华告诉耶利米有关旱灾的事：
2“犹大充满悲泣，
她的城邑衰败，
人人坐在地上痛哭，
耶路撒冷哀鸣四起。
3贵族派仆人去水池打水，
仆人去那里发现没有水，
就带着空瓶垂头丧气、
羞愧难当地回去了。
4天不下雨，
土地干裂，
农夫沮丧地抱着头。
5因为没有草，
田野的母鹿抛弃了刚生下来的小鹿；
6因为没有草，
野驴站在光秃的山头上像豺狼一样喘气，双目无神。”
7耶和华啊，虽然我们的罪控告我们，
我们屡屡叛逆得罪你，
求你为了自己的尊名而拯救我们。
8以色列的盼望和患难时的救主啊，
你为什么在这里像一个异乡人，
像一个只住一夜的旅客呢？
9你为什么像一个受惊的人，
像一个无力救人的勇士呢？
耶和华啊，你一直都在我们中间，
我们属于你的名下，
求你不要抛弃我们。
10论到这些百姓，耶和华这样说：
“他们喜欢流浪，
不约束自己的脚步，
因此耶和华不喜欢他们。
现在祂要清算他们的罪恶，
追讨他们的罪。”
11耶和华对我说：“你不要为这百姓祷告。 12他们禁食，我也不会听他们的呼求；他们献上燔祭和素祭，我也不会悦纳。我要用战争、饥荒和瘟疫灭绝他们。” 13我说：“主耶和华啊！众先知不停地告诉他们不会有战争，也不会遭遇饥荒，说耶和华必在这地方赐给他们永久的平安。”
14耶和华对我说：“那些先知奉我的名说假预言，我并没有差派他们，没有委任他们，也没有对他们说话。他们对你们说的预言是假异象，是占卜，是凭空捏造。 15我没有差派他们，他们却奉我的名说这地方必没有战争和饥荒。他们必死于战争和饥荒。这是耶和华说的。 16至于听他们说预言的人以及那些人的妻子儿女，必因饥荒和战争而暴尸耶路撒冷街头。因为我要使他们受到应得的报应。
17“耶利米，你要对他们说，
‘让我昼夜泪眼汪汪吧，
因为我的同胞遭受重创，
遍体鳞伤。
18我走到田间，
眼前是具具被杀的尸体；
我进入城里，
见饥荒肆虐，
祭司和先知也流亡异乡14:18 “祭司和先知也流亡异乡”或译“连祭司和先知也浑浑噩噩，不知道自己做什么”。。’”
19耶和华啊，你完全丢弃犹大了吗？
你厌恶锡安吗？
你为什么把我们打得伤痕累累，以致无法医治？
我们期待平安，却没有平安；
渴望得到医治，却饱受惊吓。
20耶和华啊，我们承认自己和我们祖先的罪，
我们都得罪了你。
21为了你的尊名，
求你不要厌恶我们，
不要让你荣耀的宝座蒙羞。
求你顾念你与我们立的约，
不要废除它。
22在列国供奉的偶像中，
谁能赐下雨水呢？
天能自降甘霖吗？
我们的上帝耶和华啊，
难道不是只有你能行这些事吗？
是你赐雨水降甘霖，
所以我们仰望你。
1The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.14.1 the dearth: Heb. the words of the dearths, or, restraints 2Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. 3And 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. 4Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. 5Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass. 6And 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.
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. 8O 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? 9Why 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.14.9 we…: Heb. thy name is called upon 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. 11Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. 12When 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.
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.14.13 assured…: Heb. peace of truth 14Then 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. 15Therefore 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. 16And 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.
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. 18If 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.14.18 go about…: or, make merchandise against a land, and men acknowledge it not 19Hast 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! 20We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee. 21Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us. 22Are 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.
