16 This is what the Lord of armies says:
(A)Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you.
They are (B)leading you into futility;
They tell a (C)vision of their own [a]imagination,
Not (D)from the mouth of the Lord.
17 They keep saying to those who (E)despise Me,
‘The Lord has said, “(F)You will have peace”’;
And as for everyone who walks in the (G)stubbornness of his own heart,
They say, ‘(H)Disaster will not come on you.’
18 But (I)who has stood in the council of the Lord,
That he should see and hear His word?
Who has paid (J)attention to [b]His word and listened?
19 Behold, the (K)storm of the Lord has gone forth in wrath,
Even a whirling tempest;
It will swirl down on the head of the wicked.
20 The (L)anger of the Lord will not turn back
Until He has (M)performed and carried out the purposes of His heart;
(N)In the last days you will clearly understand it.
21 (O)I did not send these prophets,
But they ran.
I did not speak to them,
But they prophesied.
22 But if they had (P)stood in My council,
Then they would have (Q)announced My words to 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 (R)near,” declares the Lord,
“And not a God far off?
24 Can a person (S)hide himself in hiding places
So that I do not see him?” declares the Lord.
(T)Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.

25 “I have (U)heard what the prophets have said who (V)prophesy falsely in My name, saying, ‘I had a (W)dream, I had a dream!’ 26 How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, these prophets of the (X)deceitfulness of their own heart, 27 who intend to (Y)make My people forget My name by their dreams which they report to one another, just as their fathers (Z)forgot My name because of Baal? 28 The prophet who has a dream may report his dream, but let him who has (AA)My word speak My word truthfully. (AB)What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord. 29 “Is My word not like (AC)fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a (AD)hammer which shatters a rock? 30 Therefore behold, (AE)I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who steal My words from each other. 31 Behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who [c]use their tongues and declare, ‘The Lord declares!’ 32 Behold, I am against those who have prophesied (AF)false dreams,” declares the Lord, “and reported them and led My people astray by their lies and (AG)reckless boasting; yet (AH)I did not send them nor command them, nor do they (AI)provide this people the slightest benefit,” declares the Lord.

33 “Now when this people or the prophet or a priest asks you, saying, ‘What is the [d](AJ)pronouncement of the Lord?’ then you shall say to them, ‘What [e]pronouncement?’ The Lord declares, ‘I will (AK)abandon you.’ 34 Then as for the prophet or the priest or the people who say, ‘The (AL)pronouncement of the Lord,’ I will bring punishment upon that person and his household. 35 This is what each one of you will say to his neighbor and to his brother: ‘(AM)What has the Lord answered?’ or, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36 For you will no longer remember the pronouncement of the Lord, because every person’s own word will become the pronouncement, and you have (AN)perverted the words of the (AO)living God, the Lord of armies, our God. 37 This is what you will say to that prophet: ‘What has the Lord answered you?’ and, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 38 And if you say, ‘The pronouncement of the Lord!’ for that reason the Lord says this: ‘Because you said this word, “The pronouncement of the Lord!” I have also sent word to you, saying, “You shall not say, ‘The pronouncement of the Lord!’”’ 39 Therefore behold, (AP)I will certainly forget you and thrust you away from My presence, along with the city which I gave you and your fathers. 40 I will put an everlasting (AQ)disgrace on you and an everlasting humiliation which will not be forgotten.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 23:16 Lit heart
  2. Jeremiah 23:18 Another reading is My
  3. Jeremiah 23:31 Lit take
  4. Jeremiah 23:33 Or burden, and so throughout the ch
  5. Jeremiah 23:33 Or burden, and so throughout the ch

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