Jeremiah 23:16-40 ▼

16 Yahweh of Armies says, “Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They teach you vanity. They speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Yahweh.

17 They say continually to those who despise me, ‘Yahweh has said, “You will have peace;”’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart they say, ‘No evil will come on you.’

18 For who has stood in the council of Yahweh, that he should perceive and hear his word? Who has listened to my word, and heard it?

19 Behold, Yahweh’s storm, his wrath, has gone out. Yes, a whirling storm! It will burst on the head of the wicked.

20 Yahweh’s anger will not return until he has executed and performed the intents of his heart. In the latter days, you will understand it perfectly.

21 I didn’t send these prophets, yet they ran. I didn’t speak to them, yet they prophesied.

22 But if they had stood in my council, then they would have caused my people to hear my words, and would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

23 “Am I a God at hand,” says Yahweh, “and not a God afar off?

24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I can’t see him?” says Yahweh. “Don’t I fill heaven and earth?” says Yahweh.

25 “I have heard what the prophets have said, who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’

26 How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, even the prophets of the deceit of their own heart?

27 They intend to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they each tell his neighbor, as their fathers forgot my name because of Baal.

28 The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat?” says Yahweh.

29 “Isn’t my word like fire?” says Yahweh; “and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

30 “Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who each steal my words from his neighbor.

31 Behold, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who use their tongues, and say, ‘He says.’

32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams,” says Yahweh, “who tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their vain boasting; yet I didn’t send them or command them. They don’t profit this people at all,” says Yahweh.

33 “When this people, or the prophet, or a priest, asks you, saying, ‘What is the message from Yahweh?’ Then you shall tell them, ‘“What message? I will cast you off,” says Yahweh.’

34 As for the prophet, the priest, and the people, who say, ‘The message from Yahweh,’ I will even punish that man and his household.

35 You will say everyone to his neighbor, and everyone to his brother, ‘What has Yahweh answered?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh said?’

36 You will mention the message from Yahweh no more, for every man’s own word has become his message; for you have perverted the words of the living God, of Yahweh of Armies, our God.

37 You will say to the prophet, ‘What has Yahweh answered you?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh spoken?’

38 Although you say, ‘The message from Yahweh,’ therefore Yahweh says: ‘Because you say this word, “The message from Yahweh,” and I have sent to you, telling you not to say, “The message from Yahweh,”

39 therefore behold, I will utterly forget you, and I will cast you off with the city that I gave to you and to your fathers, away from my presence.

40 I will bring an everlasting reproach on you, and a perpetual shame, which will not be forgotten.’”