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18 In the fields I see the bodies
    of those killed in battle.
And in the towns I see crowds
    dying of hunger.
But the prophets and priests
    go about their business,
without understanding
    what has happened.”[a]

Jeremiah Prays to the Lord

19 Have you rejected Judah, Lord?
    Do you hate Jerusalem?
Why did you strike down Judah
    with a fatal wound?
We had hoped for peace
and a time of healing,
    but all we got was terror.
20 We and our ancestors are guilty
    of rebelling against you.

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Footnotes

  1. 14.18 go about … has happened: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

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.(A)
Both prophet and priest
    have gone to a land they know not.(B)’”

19 Have you rejected Judah completely?(C)
    Do you despise Zion?
Why have you afflicted us
    so that we cannot be healed?(D)
We hoped for peace
    but no good has come,
for a time of healing
    but there is only terror.(E)
20 We acknowledge(F) our wickedness, Lord,
    and the guilt of our ancestors;(G)
    we have indeed sinned(H) against you.

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