Jeremiah 14:1-10

Famine and wars

1 This is the Lord's message that he gave to Jeremiah about the famine:

2 ‘Judah's people are very sad and upset.

The people in Judah's cities are becoming weak.

They are sitting on the ground and they are weeping.

Jerusalem's people call to me for help.

3 Rich people send their servants to get water.

They go to the wells, but they do not find any water.

They return home with empty water jars.

They are ashamed and upset.

They hide their faces in their hands.

4 There has been no rain anywhere.

The ground is breaking apart.

The farmers too are very upset.

They hide their faces in their hands.

5 There is no grass in the fields for the deer to eat.

So the mother deer runs away from her new baby.

6 Wild donkeys stand on the empty hills.

They breathe very fast, like thirsty jackals.

Their eyes hurt as they look for grass,

but there is no food for them to eat.’

7 ‘Lord, our many sins show that we are guilty.

But please help us, to show that you are our God.

We have turned away from you many times.

We have done bad things against you.

8 You are the one that we Israelites hope to give us help.

You are the one who saves us when we are in trouble.

But now you live among us like a foreigner.

You are like a visitor who stays for only one night.

9 You seem to be like a helpless person.

You are like a brave fighter who has lost his strength to save anyone.

But surely you are among us, Lord.

We belong to you as your own people.

Do not leave us alone!’

10 The Lord says this about his people:

‘These people love to go wherever they want.

They do not try to stay near to me.

So they do not please me.

Now I will remember the wrong things that they have done.

I will punish them for their sins.’