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This message came to Jeremiah from the Lord , explaining why he was holding back the rain:
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“Judah wilts;
commerce at the city gates grinds to a halt.
All the people sit on the ground in mourning,
and a great cry rises from Jerusalem.
3
The nobles send servants to get water,
but all the wells are dry.
The servants return with empty pitchers,
confused and desperate,
covering their heads in grief.
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The ground is parched
and cracked for lack of rain.
The farmers are deeply troubled;
they, too, cover their heads.
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Even the doe abandons her newborn fawn
because there is no grass in the field.
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The wild donkeys stand on the bare hills
panting like thirsty jackals.
They strain their eyes looking for grass,
but there is none to be found.”
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The people say, “Our wickedness has caught up with us, Lord ,
but help us for the sake of your own reputation.
We have turned away from you
and sinned against you again and again.
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O Hope of Israel, our Savior in times of trouble,
why are you like a stranger to us?
Why are you like a traveler passing through the land,
stopping only for the night?
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Are you also confused?
Is our champion helpless to save us?
You are right here among us, Lord .
We are known as your people.
Please don’t abandon us now!”
10
So this is what the Lord says to his people:
“You love to wander far from me
and do not restrain yourselves.
Therefore, I will no longer accept you as my people.
Now I will remember all your wickedness
and will punish you for your sins.”
11 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for these people anymore. 12 When they fast, I will pay no attention. When they present their burnt offerings and grain offerings to me, I will not accept them. Instead, I will devour them with war, famine, and disease.”