Jeremias 14:8-18

8 ç esperança de Israel, e Redentor seu no tempo da angústia! por que serias como um estrangeiro na terra? e como o viandante que arma a sua tenda para passar a noite?

9 Por que serias como homem surpreendido, como valoroso que não pode livrar? Mas tu estás no meio de nós, Senhor, e nós somos chamados pelo teu nome; não nos desampares.

10 Assim diz o Senhor acerca deste povo: Pois que tanto gostaram de andar errantes, e não detiveram os seus pés, por isso o Senhor não os aceita, mas agora se lembrará da iniqüidade deles, e visitará os seus pecados.

11 Disse-me ainda o Senhor: Não rogues por este povo para seu bem.

12 Quando jejuarem, não ouvirei o seu clamor, e quando oferecerem holocaustos e oblações, não me agradarei deles; antes eu os consumirei pela espada, e pela fome e pela peste.

13 Então disse eu: Ah! Senhor Deus, eis que os profetas lhes dizem: Não vereis espada, e não tereis fome; antes vos darei paz verdadeira neste lugar.

14 E disse-me o Senhor: Os profetas profetizam mentiras em meu nome; não os enviei, nem lhes dei ordem, nem lhes falei. Visão falsa, adivinhação, vaidade e o engano do seu coração é o que eles vos profetizam.

15 Portanto assim diz o Senhor acerca dos profetas que profetizam em meu nome, sem que eu os tenha mandado, e que dizem: Nem espada, nem fome haverá nesta terra: Â espada e � fome serão consumidos esses profetas.

16 E o povo a quem eles profetizam será lançado nas ruas de Jerusalém, por causa da fome e da espada; e não haverá quem os sepulte a eles, a suas mulheres, a seus filhos e a suas filhas; porque derramarei sobre eles a sua maldade.

17 Portanto lhes dirás esta palavra: Os meus olhos derramem lágrimas de noite e de dia, e não cessem; porque a virgem filha do meu povo está gravemente ferida, de mui dolorosa chaga.

18 Se eu saio ao campo, eis os mortos � espada, e, se entro na cidade, eis os debilitados pela fome; o profeta e o sacerdote percorrem a terra, e nada sabem.

Jeremias 14:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 14

This chapter contains prophecy of a drought, which produced a famine, Jer 14:1, and is described by the dismal effects of it; and general distress in the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, Jer 14:2, even the nobles were affected with it, whose servants returned without water ashamed, when sent for it, Jer 14:3, the ploughmen could not use their plough, their ground was so hard, Jer 14:4 and the very beasts of the field suffered much, because there was no grass, Jer 14:5,6, upon this follows a prayer of the prophet to the Lord, that he would give rain for his name's sake; he confesses the sins of the people, that they were many, and against the Lord; and testified against them, that they deserved to be used as they were; and he addresses the Lord as the hope and Saviour of his people in time past, when it was a time of trouble with them; and expostulates with him, why he should be as a stranger and traveller, and like a mighty man astonished, that either had no regard to their land any more than a foreigner and a traveller; or no heart to help them, or exert his power, than a man at his wits' end, though he was among them, and they were called by his name; and therefore he begs he would not leave them, Jer 14:7-9, but he is told that it was for the sins of the people that all this was, which the Lord was determined to remember and visit; and therefore he is bid not to pray for them; if he did, it would not be regarded, nor the people's fasting and prayers also; for they should be consumed by the sword, famine, and pestilence, Jer 14:10-12, and though the prophet pleads, in excuse of the people, that the false prophets had deceived them; yet not only the vanity and falsehood of their prophecies are exposed, and they are threatened with destruction, but the people also, for hearkening unto them, Jer 14:13-16, wherefore the prophet, instead of putting up a prayer for them, has a lamentation dictated to him by the Lord, which he is ordered to express, Jer 14:17,18, and yet, notwithstanding this, he goes on to pray for them in a very pathetic manner; he expostulates with God, and pleads for help and healing; confesses the iniquities of the people; entreats the Lord, for the sake of his name, glory, and covenant, that he would not reject them and his petition; and observes, that the thing asked for (rain) was what none of the gods of the Heathens could give, or even the heavens themselves, only the Lord; and therefore determines to wait upon him for it, who made the heavens, the earth, and rain, Jer 14:19-22.