可怕的旱灾
耶和华的话临到耶利米，论到旱灾的事：
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.
2“犹大悲哀，城门衰败； 众人坐在地上哀恸， 耶路撒冷的哀声上达。Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
3他们的贵族打发僮仆去打水； 他们来到水池， 找不到水，就拿着空器皿， 蒙羞惭愧，抱头而回。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因为无雨降在地上，土地就干裂， 农夫为此蒙羞抱头。Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.
5田野的母鹿因为无草 也撇弃才生的小鹿。Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.
6野驴站在光秃的高地喘气，好像野狗； 它们的眼目因无草而失明。”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耶和华啊，虽然我们的罪孽控告我们， 求你为你名的缘故行动吧！ 我们本是多次背道，得罪了你。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以色列所盼望，在患难时作他救主的啊， 你在这地为何像寄居的， 又如旅行的只住一夜呢？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你为何像受惊吓的人， 像不能救人的勇士呢？ 耶和华啊，你在我们中间， 我们是称为你名下的人， 求你不要离开我们。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耶和华论到这百姓如此说： “这百姓喜爱游荡， 不约束自己的脚步， 所以耶和华不悦纳他们。 现今他要记起他们的罪孽， 惩罚他们的罪恶。”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耶和华又对我说：“不要为这百姓求福。Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.
12他们禁食的时候，我不听他们的呼求；他们献燔祭和素祭，我也不悦纳。我却要用刀剑、饥荒、瘟疫灭绝他们。”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我就说：“唉！主耶和华，看哪，那些先知常对他们说：‘你们必不见刀剑，也不遭饥荒；耶和华要在这地方赏赐你们真正的平安。’”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耶和华对我说：“那些先知托我的名说假预言，我并未差遣他们，没有吩咐他们，也没有对他们说话；他们向你们预言的是虚假的异象、占卜、虚无，以及心中的诡诈。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所以耶和华如此说：‘论到托我名说预言的那些先知，我并未差遣他们；他们说这地不会有刀剑、饥荒，其实那些先知自己必被刀剑、饥荒灭绝。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听他们说预言的百姓必因饥荒、刀剑被扔在耶路撒冷的街道上，无人埋葬。他们连妻子带儿女，都是如此。我必将他们的恶倒在他们身上。’”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你要向他们说这些话： 愿我眼泪汪汪， 昼夜不息， 因为少女─我百姓☛“我百姓”：原文直译“我百姓的女儿”。受了重大的打击， 伤口极其严重。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我若出到田间， 看哪，有被刀杀的； 我若进入城内， 看哪，有因饥荒患病的； 先知和祭司也在各地往来经商， 不知如何是好。百姓恳求耶和华怜悯
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你全然弃绝犹大吗？ 你的心厌恶锡安吗？ 你为何击打我们，使我们无法得医治呢？ 我们指望平安，却得不着福气； 指望痊愈，看哪，受了惊惶。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耶和华啊，我们承认自己的罪恶 和我们祖先的罪孽， 因我们得罪了你。We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.
21求你为你名的缘故， 不厌恶，不轻视你荣耀的宝座。 求你记念， 不要违背你与我们所立的约。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外邦虚无的神明☛“虚无的神明”：原文是“虚无”。中有能降雨的吗？ 天能自降甘霖吗？ 耶和华－我们的神啊，不是你吗？ 我们要等候你， 因为这一切都是你所造的。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.