Jeremiah 14:1-10

1The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:

2"Judah mourns, and her gates languish; her people lament on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem goes up.

3Her nobles send their servants for water; they come to the cisterns; they find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are ashamed and confounded and cover their heads.

4Because of the ground that is dismayed, since there is no rain on the land, the farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.

5Even the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn because there is no grass.

6The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail because there is no vegetation.

7"Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name's sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you.

8O you hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night?

9Why should you be like a man confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot save? Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not leave us."

10Thus says the Lord concerning this people: "They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; therefore the Lord does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins."