Jeremiah 23:21-40 ▼

21 I did not send these prophets, But they ran. I did not speak to them, But they prophesied.

22 But if they had stood in My council, Then they would have caused My words to be heard by My people And would have turned them back from their evil way And from the evil of their deeds.

23 “Am I a God who is near,” declares Yahweh, “And not a God far off?

24 Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?” declares Yahweh. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares Yahweh.

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

26 How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy a lie, even these prophets of the deception of their own heart,

27 who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they recount to one another, just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal?

28 The prophet who has a dream may recount his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?” declares Yahweh.

29 “Is not My word like fire?” declares Yahweh, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?

30 Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” declares Yahweh, “who steal My words from each other.

31 Behold, I am against the prophets,” declares Yahweh, “who take their tongues and declare, ‘Yahweh declares.’

32 Behold, I am against those who have prophesied lying dreams,” declares Yahweh, “and who recounted them and led My people astray by their lying and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them, and I did not command them, and they do not furnish this people the slightest benefit,” declares Yahweh.

33 “Now when this people or the prophet or a priest asks you, saying, ‘What is the oracle of Yahweh?’ then you shall say to them, ‘What oracle?’ Yahweh declares, ‘I will abandon you.’

34 Then as for the prophet or the priest or the people who say, ‘The oracle of Yahweh,’ I will bring punishment upon that man and his household.

35 Thus will each of you say to his neighbor and to his brother, ‘What has Yahweh answered?’ or, ‘What has Yahweh spoken?’

36 For you will no longer remember the oracle of Yahweh because every man’s own word will become the oracle, and you have perverted the words of the living God, Yahweh of hosts, our God.

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

38 For if you all say, ‘The oracle of Yahweh!’ surely thus says Yahweh, ‘Because you said this word, “The oracle of Yahweh!” I have also sent to you, saying, “You shall not say, ‘The oracle of Yahweh!’”’

39 Therefore behold, I will surely forget you and abandon you, along with the city which I gave you and your fathers, so that you are out of My presence.

40 I will put an everlasting reproach on you and an everlasting humiliation which will not be forgotten.”