The prophets
Jeremiah's Lament and the People's Prayer for Mercy
Jeremiah is commanded to let his eyes run with tears night and day over the virgin daughter of his people, who is crushed by an incurable blow. On the field lie those killed by the sword, and in the city people are sick from hunger, while both prophet and priest wander through a foreign land. The people ask whether the Lord has rejected Judah and grown disgusted with Zion, and they acknowledge their own sin and that of their fathers. They pray to God not to reject them or break his covenant, for the sake of his name, and confess that only the Lord—not the empty idols of the nations—can give rain and salvation.
Jeremiah 14,17-22
17Speak this word to them: Let my eyes stream with tears night and day, without ceasing, for the virgin daughter of my people has suffered a crushing blow, a devastating wound.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה תֵּרַ֨דְנָה עֵינַ֥י דִּמְעָ֛ה לַ֥יְלָה וְיוֹמָ֖ם וְאַל־תִּדְמֶ֑ינָה כִּי֩ שֶׁ֨בֶר גָּד֜וֹל נִשְׁבְּרָ֗ה בְּתוּלַת֙ בַּת־עַמִּ֔י מַכָּ֖ה נַחְלָ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃
18If I go out into the country, there lie those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, there are the ravages of famine. Both prophet and priest have gone off to a land they do not know.
אִם־יָצָ֣אתִי הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּה֙ חַלְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶב וְאִם֙ בָּ֣אתִי הָעִ֔יר וְהִנֵּ֖ה תַּחֲלוּאֵ֣י רָעָ֑ב כִּֽי־גַם־נָבִ֧יא גַם־כֹּהֵ֛ן סָחֲר֥וּ אֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ וְלֹ֥א יָדָֽעוּ׃ ס
19Have you rejected Judah completely? Do you loathe Zion? Why have you struck us so that we cannot be healed? We hoped for peace, but no good has come; we hoped for a time of healing, but there is only terror.
הֲמָאֹ֨ס מָאַ֜סְתָּ אֶת־יְהוּדָ֗ה אִם־בְּצִיּוֹן֙ גָּעֲלָ֣ה נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ מַדּ֙וּעַ֙ הִכִּיתָ֔נוּ וְאֵ֥ין לָ֖נוּ מַרְפֵּ֑א קַוֵּ֤ה לְשָׁלוֹם֙ וְאֵ֣ין ט֔וֹב וּלְעֵ֥ת מַרְפֵּ֖א וְהִנֵּ֥ה בְעָתָֽה׃
20We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, and the guilt of our fathers; we have sinned against you.
יָדַ֧עְנוּ יְהוָ֛ה רִשְׁעֵ֖נוּ עֲוֺ֣ן אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ כִּ֥י חָטָ֖אנוּ לָֽךְ׃
21For the sake of your name, do not despise us; do not dishonor your glorious throne. Remember your covenant with us, and do not break it.
אַל־תִּנְאַץ֙ לְמַ֣עַן שִׁמְךָ֔ אַל־תְּנַבֵּ֖ל כִּסֵּ֣א כְבוֹדֶ֑ךָ זְכֹ֕ר אַל־תָּפֵ֥ר בְּרִֽיתְךָ֖ אִתָּֽנוּ׃
22Can the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Can the skies by themselves send showers? No, it is you, O LORD our God. So we put our hope in you, for you are the one who does all this.
הֲיֵ֨שׁ בְּהַבְלֵ֤י הַגּוֹיִם֙ מַגְשִׁמִ֔ים וְאִם־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם יִתְּנ֣וּ רְבִבִ֑ים הֲלֹ֨א אַתָּה־ה֜וּא יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ וּ֨נְקַוֶּה־לָּ֔ךְ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתָ אֶת־כָּל־אֵֽלֶּה׃ פ