The Severe Drought

14 That which came as the word of Yahweh to Jeremiah concerning the matter[fn] of the severe drought.

• 2 “Judah mourns, and her gates languish, they are in mourning on the ground,
• and the cry of lament of Jerusalem goes up.
• 3 And their nobles send their servants for water. They come to the pits, they find no water.
• They return with their vessels empty .[fn]
  • They are ashamed, and they are confounded,
  • and they cover their heads.[fn]
  • 4 Because of the ground, which is cracked because there was no rain on the ground.
• The farmers are ashamed,
  • they cover their heads.[fn]
  • 5 For even the doe in the field gives birth and forsakes her young,[fn] because there is no green growth.
  • 6 And wild asses stand on the barren heights, they gasp for breath like the jackals.
• Their eyes fail
  • because there is no vegetation.”
  • 7 Although our iniquities testify against us, O Yahweh, act for the sake of your name.
• Yes, our apostasies are many;
  • we have sinned against you.
  • 8 You are the hope of Israel, its savior in time of distress.
• Why should you be like an alien in the land,
  • or like a traveler who spreads out his tent[fn] to spend the night?
  • 9 Why should you be like a confused man, like a warrior who is not able to help?
• Yet you are in our midst, O Yahweh,
  • and your name is called upon us.
• You must not leave us!

10 Thus says Yahweh concerning this people:

• “They have loved so much to wander,
  • they have not spared their feet.
• Therefore Yahweh is not favorable to them,
  • now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.”