1That which was the word of YHWH to Jeremiah concerning the droughts.
2Judah mourns, and her gates languish; they are in mourning to the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem has gone up.
3And their nobles have sent their lads for water; they came to the pits, they found no water; their vessels returned empty; they were ashamed and put to shame, and covered their heads.
4Because of the ground (adamah) which is cracked, for there has been no rain in the land, the plowmen are ashamed, they cover their heads.
5For even the hind in the field calves and forsakes it, because there is no grass.
6And the wild asses stand on the bare heights; they pant for spirit (ruach) like the great sea-creatures (tannin); their eyes fail, because there is no herbage.
7If our iniquities testify against us, YHWH, act for the sake of your name; for our backslidings are many, against you we have sinned.
8Hope of Israel, its savior (yasha) in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, and like a wayfarer who turns aside to lodge?
9Why should you be like a man (ish) stunned, like a mighty one who cannot save (yasha)? Yet you are in our midst, YHWH, and your name is called upon us; do not leave us.
10Thus said YHWH to this people: So they have loved to wander, they have not restrained their feet; and YHWH does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.
11And YHWH said to me: "Do not pray for this people for good.
12When they fast, I am not hearing their cry; and when they offer up a burnt offering and a meal offering, I do not accept them; but by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence I am consuming them."
13And I said: "Ah, my Lord (Adonai) YHWH! Behold, the prophets are saying to them: 'You shall not see the sword, and famine shall not be to you; but assured peace I will give you in this place.'"
14And YHWH said to me: "Falsehood the prophets are prophesying in my name; I did not send them, and I did not command (tzivvah) them, and I did not speak to them; a false vision and divination and a worthless thing and the deceit of their heart they are prophesying to you.
15Therefore thus said YHWH concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, though I did not send them, and they say: 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land' — by sword and by famine those prophets shall 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 there shall be none to bury them, them, their wives (ishah), and their sons, and their daughters; and I will pour out their evil upon them.
17And you shall say to them this word: Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for with a great breach the virgin daughter of my people is broken, with a very grievous blow.
18If I go out into the field, then behold, the slain of the sword! And if I come into the city, then behold, the diseases of famine! For both prophet and priest go about to a land that they did not know.
19Have you utterly rejected Judah? Has your soul (nephesh) loathed Zion? Why have you smitten us, and there is no healing for us? We waited for peace, but there is no good; and for a time of healing, but behold, terror!
20We know, YHWH, our wickedness, the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against you.
21Do not spurn us, for the sake of your name; do not dishonor the throne of your glory; remember, do not break your covenant (berit) with us.
22Are there among the vanities of the nations any that cause rain? or do the heavens give showers? Are you not he, YHWH our God? And we wait for you, for you have made all these.