Jeremiah 14:15-22

15They claim to speak with my authority, but I did not send them. They say that there will be no war or famine. So I tell you, this is what will happen to those prophets: War and famine will kill them.

16And the people that they are speaking their messages to will also die because of war and famine. Their bodies will lie in Jerusalem's streets. Nobody will be there to bury them. This will happen to the men, their wives, their sons and their daughters. I will punish them as they deserve, because they are so wicked.

17Say this to the people, Jeremiah: “Tears pour from my eyes all the time. I weep through each day and each night. I am sad about my own dear people. A great trouble has knocked them to the ground. They have received a very bad wound.

18When I go out into the fields, I see the bodies of people who have died in war. When I look in the city, I see people who are dying from famine. The prophets and the priests are busy with their work. But they do not understand what is happening.” ’

191‘Lord, have you completely turned away from the people of Judah? Do you really hate the people of Zion? You have knocked us down so that we will never get better. We hoped to live in peace, but nothing good happened to us. We hoped to have rest from our troubles, but instead we live in fear.

20Lord, we agree that we are wicked people. Our ancestors also did bad things. We have turned against you.

21But please do not refuse to help us. Show that you are a faithful God. Jerusalem is the place where you have your beautiful throne. So do not go away and leave us. Remember the covenant that you made with us. Please do what you promised to do for us.

22The idols of other nations are useless. None of them can cause rain to fall. And the sky itself does not make rain. No, it is you, Lord, our God, who sends rain. You alone do all these things, so we trust you to help us.’