11 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray(A) for the well-being of this people. 12 Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry;(B) though they offer burnt offerings(C) and grain offerings,(D) I will not accept(E) them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword,(F) famine(G) and plague.”(H)

13 But I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophets(I) keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine.(J) Indeed, I will give you lasting peace(K) in this place.’”

14 Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies(L) in my name. I have not sent(M) them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions,(N) divinations,(O) idolatries[a] and the delusions of their own minds. 15 Therefore this is what the Lord says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish(P) by sword and famine.(Q) 16 And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury(R) them, their wives, their sons and their daughters.(S) I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.(T)

17 “Speak this word to them:

“‘Let my eyes overflow with tears(U)
    night and day without ceasing;
for the Virgin(V) Daughter, my people,
    has suffered a grievous wound,
    a crushing blow.(W)
18 If I go into the country,
    I see those slain by the sword;
if I go into the city,
    I see the ravages of famine.(X)
Both prophet and priest
    have gone to a land they know not.(Y)’”

19 Have you rejected Judah completely?(Z)
    Do you despise Zion?
Why have you afflicted us
    so that we cannot be healed?(AA)
We hoped for peace
    but no good has come,
for a time of healing
    but there is only terror.(AB)
20 We acknowledge(AC) our wickedness, Lord,
    and the guilt of our ancestors;(AD)
    we have indeed sinned(AE) against you.
21 For the sake of your name(AF) do not despise us;
    do not dishonor your glorious throne.(AG)
Remember your covenant(AH) with us
    and do not break it.
22 Do any of the worthless idols(AI) of the nations bring rain?(AJ)
    Do the skies themselves send down showers?
No, it is you, Lord our God.
    Therefore our hope is in you,
    for you are the one who does all this.(AK)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 14:14 Or visions, worthless divinations

Made Alive in Christ

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,(A) in which you used to live(B) when you followed the ways of this world(C) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,(D) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.(E) All of us also lived among them at one time,(F) gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a](G) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us,(H) God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions(I)—it is by grace you have been saved.(J) And God raised us up with Christ(K) and seated us with him(L) in the heavenly realms(M) in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,(N) expressed in his kindness(O) to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace(P) you have been saved,(Q) through faith(R)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works,(S) so that no one can boast.(T) 10 For we are God’s handiwork,(U) created(V) in Christ Jesus to do good works,(W) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.

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