Jeremiah 14:4-6

14:4 They are dismayed because the ground is cracked ¹ 

because there has been no rain in the land.

The farmers, too, are dismayed

and bury their faces in their hands.

14:5 Even the doe abandons her newborn fawn ²  in the field

because there is no grass.

14:6 Wild donkeys stand on the hilltops

and pant for breath like jackals.

Their eyes are strained looking for food,

because there is none to be found.” ³ 

Joel 1:18

1:18 Listen to the cattle groan! ⁴ 

The herds of livestock wander around in confusion ⁵ 

because they have no pasture.

Even the flocks of sheep are suffering.

Joel 2:22

2:22 Do not fear, wild animals! ⁶ 

For the pastures of the wilderness are again green with grass.

Indeed, the trees bear their fruit;

the fig tree and the vine yield to their fullest. ⁷ 

[14:4]  ¹ tn For the use of the verb “is cracked” here see BDB 369 s.v. חָתַת Qal.1 and compare the usage in Jer 51:56 where it refers to broken bows. The form is a relative clause without relative pronoun (cf., GKC 486-87 §155.f). The sentence as a whole is related to the preceding through a particle meaning “because of” or “on account of.” Hence the subject and verb have been repeated to make the connection.

[14:5]  ² tn Heb “she gives birth and abandons.”

[14:6]  ³ tn Heb “their eyes are strained because there is no verdure.”

[1:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “how the cattle groan!”

[1:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “the herds of cattle are confused.” The verb בּוּךְ (bukh, “be confused”) sometimes refers to wandering aimlessly in confusion (cf. Exod 14:3).

[2:22]  ⁶ tn Heb “beasts of the field.”

[2:22]  ⁷ tn Heb “their strength.” The trees and vines will produce a maximum harvest, in contrast to the failed agricultural conditions previously described.