Jeremiah 14:18

¹⁶ And the people to whom they prophesy will be thrown into the streets of Jerusalem because of famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them or their wives, their sons or their daughters. I will pour out their own evil upon them.

¹⁷ You are to speak this word to them: ‘My eyes overflow with tears; day and night they do not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people has been shattered by a crushing blow, a severely grievous wound.

If I go out to the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, I see those ravaged by famine! For both prophet and priest travel to a land they do not know.’”

¹⁹ Have You rejected Judah completely? Do You despise Zion? Why have You stricken us so that we are beyond healing? We hoped for peace, but no good has come, and for the time of healing, but there was only terror.

²⁰ We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, the guilt of our fathers; indeed, we have sinned against You.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: If I go out to the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, I see those ravaged by famine! For both prophet and priest travel to a land they do not know.’”
KJV: 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.
WEB: If I go out into the field, then behold, the slain with the sword! If I enter into the city, then behold, those who are sick with famine! For both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge.’”
ASV: If I go forth into the field, then, behold, the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then, behold, they that are sick with famine! for both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge.
DARBY: If I go forth into the field, behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, behold them that pine away with famine! For both prophet and priest shall go about into a land that they know not.
BLB: If I go out [to] the field, and behold—those slain by the sword! And if I come [into] the city, and behold—those sick from famine! How both prophet and priest go about in the land, and they do not know!’”

ÅB: Går jeg ut på marken, se, der ligger folk som er slått ihjel ved sverd, og går jeg inn i byen, se, der ligger de som pines av hunger; for både profet og prest må dra til et land som de ikke kjenner.
OTB: Hvis jeg går ut på landet, ser jeg dem som er drept av sverdet; hvis jeg går inn i byen, ser jeg hungersnødens herjinger. Både profet og prest har vandret inn i et land de ikke kjenner.’”
B1930: Går jeg ut på marken, se, der ligger folk som er slått ihjel ved sverd, og går jeg inn i byen, se, der ligger de som pines av hunger; for både profet og prest må dra til et land som de ikke kjenner.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Ezekiel 7:15
The sword is outside; plague and famine are within. Those in the country will die by the sword, and those in the city will be devoured by famine and plague.
Read in context
Lamentations 1:20
See, O LORD, how distressed I am! I am churning within; my heart is pounding within me, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is death.
Read in context
Jeremiah 8:10
Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.
Read in context
Jeremiah 52:6–7
By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food.
Read in context
Jeremiah 6:13
“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 28:36
The LORD will bring you and the king you appoint to a nation neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone.
Read in context
Jeremiah 5:31
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?
Read in context
Lamentations 4:13–16
But this was for the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in her midst.
Read in context