Jeremiah 23:21-40 ▼

21 I haue not sent these prophetes saith the Lorde and yet they ranne, I haue not spoken to them, and yet they preached.

22 But if they had continued in my counsayle, they had opened to my people my wordes, and they had turned my people from their euyll wayes, and wicked imaginations.

23 Am I then God that seeth but the thing whiche is nye at hande, and not that is farre of, saith the Lorde?

24 May any man hide him selfe so, that I shall not see hym saith the Lorde? do not I fulfill heauen and earth saith the Lorde?

25 I haue hearde well inough what the prophetes say that preache lyes in my name, saying, I haue dreamed, I haue dreamed.

26 Howe long wyll this continue in the prophetes heart to tell lies, and preache the craftie subtiltie of their owne heart?

27 Whose purpose is with the dreames that euery one tell, to make my people forget my name, as their fathers dyd when Baal came vp.

28 The prophete that hath a dreame, let hym tell it, and he that vnderstandeth my worde, let hym shewe it faythfully: for what hath chaffe and wheate to do together saith the Lorde?

29 Is not my worde like a fire saith the Lorde? and like an hammer that breaketh the harde stone?

30 Therefore thus saith the Lodre: beholde, I wyll vpon the prophetes that steale my worde priuilie from euery man.

31 Beholde, here am I saith the Lorde, against the prophetes that make tongues tender to speake, and to say, The Lorde hath saide it.

32 Beholde, here am I saith the Lorde, against those prophetes that dare prophecie lying dreames, and deceaue my people with their vanities and inconstant deuices, yet I neuer sent nor commaunded them: They shall do this people no good at all, saith the Lorde.

33 If this people, eyther any prophete or priest aske thee, and say: What is the burthen of the Lord? Thou shalt say vnto them: what burthen? I wyll forsake you saith the Lorde.

34 And the prophete, priest, or people that vseth this tearme, The burthen of the Lorde: him wyll I visite, and his house also.

35 But thus shall ye say euery one to another, and euery man to his brother: what aunswere hath the Lorde geuen? or what is the Lordes commaundement?

36 And as for the burthen of the Lorde, ye shall speake no more of it, for euery mans owne worde is his burthen: because ye haue altred the wordes of the liuing God, the Lorde of hoastes, our God.

37 Thus shall euery man say to the prophetes: what aunswere hath the Lorde geuen thee? or what saith the Lorde?

38 And not once to name the burthen of the Lorde. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Forasmuch as ye haue vsed this terme (the burthen of the Lord) where as I notwithstanding sent vnto you and forbad you to speake of the Lordes burthen:

39 Beholde therefore, I wyll take you vp as a burthen, and wyl cast you farre of from my presence, yea and the citie also that I gaue you and your fathers:

40 And wyll bryng you to an euerlasting confusion, and into a shame that shall neuer be forgotten.