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 person 5hide himself in hiding places So that 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, these prophets of the 10deceitfulness of their own heart, 27who intend to 11make My people forget My name by their dreams which they report to one another, just as their fathers 12forgot My name because of Baal? 28The prophet who has a dream may report his dream, but let him who has 13My word speak My word truthfully. 14What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord. 29“Is My word not 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 18use their tongues and declare, ‘The Lord declares!’ 32Behold, I am against those who have prophesied 19false dreams,” declares the Lord, “and reported them and led My people astray by their lies and 20reckless boasting; yet 21I did not send them nor command them, nor do they 22provide 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 2324pronouncement of the Lord?’ then you shall say to them, ‘What 25pronouncement?’ The Lord declares, ‘I will 26abandon you.’ 34Then as for the prophet or the priest or the people who say, ‘The 27pronouncement of the Lord,’ I will bring punishment upon that person and his household. 35This is what each one of you will say to his neighbor and to his brother: ‘28What has the Lord answered?’ or, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36For you will no longer remember the pronouncement of the Lord, because every person’s own word will become the pronouncement, and you have 29perverted the words of the 30living God, the Lord of armies, our God. 37This is what you will say to that prophet: ‘What has the Lord answered you?’ and, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 38And 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!’”’ 39Therefore behold, 31I will certainly forget you and thrust you away from My presence, along with the city which I gave you and your fathers. 40I will put an everlasting 32disgrace on you and an everlasting humiliation which will not be forgotten.”