Jeremiah 23:21-40

211I did not send these prophets, But they ran. I did not speak to them, But they prophesied.22But if they had 2stood in My council, Then they would have 3announced 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 4near,” declares the Lord, “And not a God far off?24Can a man 5hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?” declares the Lord. “6Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.

25“I have 7heard what the prophets have said who 8prophesy falsely in My name, saying, ‘I had a 9dream, I had a dream!’ 26How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the 10deception of their own heart, 27who intend to 11make My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another, just as their fathers 12forgot My name because of Baal? 28The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has 13My word speak My word in truth. 14What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord. 29“Is not My word like 15fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a 16hammer which shatters a rock? 30Therefore behold, 17I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who steal My words from each other. 31Behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who use their tongues and declare, ‘The Lord declares.’ 32Behold, I am against those who have prophesied 18false dreams,” declares the Lord, “and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and 19reckless boasting; yet 20I did not send them or command them, nor do they 21furnish 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 2223oracle of the Lord?’ then you shall say to them, ‘What 24oracle?’ The Lord declares, ‘I will 25abandon you.’ 34Then as for the prophet or the priest or the people who say, ‘The 26oracle of the Lord,’ I will bring punishment upon that man and his household. 35Thus will each of you say to his neighbor and to his brother, ‘27What has the Lord answered?’ or, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36For you will no longer remember the oracle of the Lord, because every man’s own word will become the oracle, and you have 28perverted the words of the 29living God, the Lord of hosts, our God. 37Thus you will say to that prophet, ‘What has the Lord answered you?’ and, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 38For if you say, ‘The oracle of the Lord!’ surely thus says the Lord, ‘Because you said this word, “The oracle of the Lord!” I have also sent to you, saying, “You shall not say, ‘The oracle of the Lord!’”’ 39Therefore behold, 30I will surely forget you and cast you away from My presence, along with the city which I gave you and your fathers. 40I will put an everlasting 31reproach on you and an everlasting humiliation which will not be forgotten.”