Jeremiah 23:21-40

21I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. 22But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. 23Am I a God at hand, saith Yhwh, and not a God afar off? 24Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith Yhwh. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith Yhwh. 25I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. 26How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; 27Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. 28The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith Yhwh.1 29Is not my word like as a fire? saith Yhwh; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? 30Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith Yhwh, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. 31Behold, I am against the prophets, saith Yhwh, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.2 32Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith Yhwh, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith Yhwh.

33And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of Yhwh? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith Yhwh. 34And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of Yhwh, I will even punish that man and his house.3 35Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath Yhwh answered? and, What hath Yhwh spoken? 36And the burden of Yhwh shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of Yhwh of Armies our God. 37Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath Yhwh answered thee? and, What hath Yhwh spoken? 38But since ye say, The burden of Yhwh; therefore thus saith Yhwh; Because ye say this word, The burden of Yhwh, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of Yhwh; 39Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence: 40And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.