3
"Their nobles have sent their servants for water; They have come to the cisterns and foundnowater. They have returned with their vesselsempty; They have beenput to shame and humiliated, And they cover their heads.
8
"O Hope of Israel, Its Savior in time of distress, Why are You like a stranger in the land Or like a traveler who has pitched his tent for the night?
9
"Why are You like a mandismayed, Like a mightyman who cannot*save? Yet You are in our midst, O LORD, And we are called by Your name; Do not forsake us!"
10
Thussays the LORD to thispeople, "Even so they have loved to wander; they have not kept their feet in check. Therefore the LORD does not accept them; now He will remember their iniquity and call their sins to account."
12
"When they fast, I am not going to listen to their cry; and when they offerburntoffering and grain offering, I am not going to accept them. Rather I am going to make an end of them by the sword, famine and pestilence."
13
But, "Ah, LordGOD!" I said, "Look, the prophets are telling them, 'You will not see the swordnor will you havefamine, but I will give you lastingpeace in thisplace.' "
14
Then the LORDsaid to me, "The prophets are prophesyingfalsehood in My name. I have neithersent them norcommanded them norspoken to them; they are prophesying to you a falsevision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds.
15
"Thereforethussays the LORDconcerning the prophets who are prophesying in My name, although it was not I who sent them-yet they keep saying, 'There will be nosword or famine in thisland '-by sword and faminethoseprophets shall meet their end!
16
"The people also to whom they are prophesying will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalembecause* of the famine and the sword; and there will be noone to bury them-neither them, nor their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters -for I will pour out their own wickedness on them.
17
"You will saythisword to them, 'Let my eyesflowdown with tearsnight and day, And let them not cease; For the virgindaughter of my people has been crushed with a mightyblow, With a sorelyinfectedwound.
18
'If I go out to the country, Behold, those slain with the sword! Or if I enter the city, Behold, diseases of famine! For bothprophet and priest Have gone rovingabout in the land that they do not know.' "
19
Have You completelyrejectedJudah? Or have You loathedZion? Why have You stricken us so that we are beyondhealing? We waited for peace, but nothinggood came; And for a time of healing, but behold, terror!
22
Are thereany among the idols of the nations who giverain? Or can the heavensgrantshowers? Is it not You, O LORD our God? Therefore we hope in You, For You are the one who has doneallthesethings.