1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth. 2 Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. 3 And 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. 4 Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. 5 Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass. 6 And 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. 8 O 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? 9 Why 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.

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. 11 Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. 12 When 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 Then 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. 15 Therefore 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. 16 And 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. 18 If 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. 19 Hast 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! 20 We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee. 21 Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us. 22 Are 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.

1 Die woord van die HERE wat tot Jeremia gekom het weens die groot droogte.

2 Juda treur en sy poorte verval; hulle sit in rou op die grond, en die geskreeu van Jerusalem gaan op.

3 En die vernames onder hulle stuur hulle ondergeskiktes na die water; hulle kom by die bakke, hulle kry geen water nie; leeg kom hulle kanne terug; hulle het beskaamd gestaan en in die skande gekom en bedek hulle hoof.

4 Weens die land wat verslae is, omdat daar geen reën op die aarde is nie, kom die landbouers in die skande, hulle bedek hulle hoof.

5 Want selfs die wildsbok in die veld lam en gooi haar lam weg, omdat daar geen jong gras is nie.

6 En wilde-esels staan op die kaal heuwels, hulle snuif die wind op soos die jakkalse; hulle oë versmag, omdat daar geen gras is nie.

7 Hoewel ons ongeregtighede teen ons getuig, o HERE, doen dit om u Naam ontwil; want ons afkerighede is baie, ons het teen U gesondig.

8 o Verwagting van Israel, sy Verlosser in tyd van benoudheid! Waarom sou U wees soos 'n vreemdeling in die land en soos 'n reisiger wat uitdraai om te vernag?

9 Waarom sou U wees soos 'n man wat verslae is, soos 'n held wat nie kan verlos nie? U is tog in ons midde, o HERE, en u Naam is oor ons uitgeroep. Verlaat ons nie!

10 So sê die HERE van hierdie volk: So het hulle daarvan gehou om te swerwe, hulle het hul voete nie teruggehou nie; daarom het die HERE geen behae in hulle nie. Nou sal Hy aan hulle ongeregtigheid dink en hulle sondes besoek.

11 Verder het die HERE vir my gesê: Bid nie vir hierdie volk ten goede nie.

12 As hulle vas, luister Ek nie na hulle gesmeek nie; en as hulle brandoffer en spysoffer bring, het Ek in hulle geen behae nie; maar deur die swaard en die hongersnood en die pes maak Ek hulle tot niet.

13 Toe sê ek: Ag, Here HERE, kyk, die profete sê vir hulle: Julle sal geen swaard sien en geen hongersnood hê nie; maar Ek sal julle 'n duursame vrede gee in hierdie plek.

14 En die HERE het vir my gesê: Die profete profeteer vals in my Naam; Ek het hulle nie gestuur en hulle geen bevel gegee en met hulle nie gespreek nie; hulle profeteer vir julle 'n leuengesig en nietige waarsêery en bedrieëry van hulle hart.

15 Daarom, so spreek die HERE: Aangaande die profete wat profeteer in my Naam sonder dat Ek hulle gestuur het, en wat sê: Daar sal geen swaard of hongersnood in hierdie land wees nie -- die profete sal deur die swaard en die hongersnood omkom.

16 En die volk vir wie hulle profeteer, sal in die strate van Jerusalem weggegooi lê vanweë die hongersnood en die swaard sonder dat iemand hulle begrawe; hulle, hulle vrouens en hulle seuns en hulle dogters. So sal Ek dan hulle boosheid oor hulle uitstort.

17 Sê aan hulle dan hierdie woord: Laat my oë afloop in trane nag en dag en nie ophou nie; want die jonkvrou, die dogter van my volk, is gebreek met 'n groot verbreking, met 'n baie smartlike wond.

18 As ek uitgaan in die veld, lê daar die wat verslaan is deur die swaard; en as ek kom in die stad, is daar die kwale van die hongersnood. Ja, selfs profeet en priester trek rond in die land sonder om iets te weet.

19 Het U Juda dan heeltemal verwerp? Of het u siel 'n afsku van Sion? Waarom het U ons geslaan, sodat daar geen genesing vir ons is nie? Hulle wag op vrede, maar daar is niks goeds nie; en op 'n tyd van beterskap, maar daar is verskrikking.

20 HERE, ons ken ons goddeloosheid, die ongeregtigheid van ons vaders, want ons het teen U gesondig.

21 Verwerp ons nie ter wille van u Naam; onteer die troon van u heerlikheid nie; hou tog in gedagtenis, verbreek nie u verbond met ons nie.

22 Is daar onder die nietige afgode van die nasies wat reën kan maak? Of kan die hemel reënbuie gee? Is U dit nie, o HERE onse God? En ons wag op U, want U doen al hierdie dinge.