Jeremias 23

1 "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" says the LORD.

2 Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, says against the shepherds who feed my people: "You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and have not visited them. Behold, I will visit on you the evil of your doings," says the LORD.

3 "I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they will be fruitful and multiply.

4 I will set up shepherds over them, who will feed them. They will no longer be afraid or dismayed, neither will any be lacking," says the LORD.

5 "Behold, the days come," says the LORD,

6 In his days Judah will be saved,

7 "Therefore behold, the days come," says the LORD, "that they will no more say, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;’

8 but, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up and who led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ Then they will dwell in their own land."

9 Concerning the prophets:

10 For the land is full of adulterers;

11 for both prophet and priest are profane.

12 Therefore their way will be to them as slippery places in the darkness.

13 "I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria.

14 In the prophets of Jerusalem I have also seen a horrible thing:

15 Therefore the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets:

16 The LORD of Hosts says,

17 They say continually to those who despise me,

18 For who has stood in the council of the LORD,

19 Behold, the LORD’s storm, his wrath, has gone out.

20 The LORD’s anger will not return until he has executed,

21 I didn’t send these prophets, yet they ran.

22 But if they had stood in my council,

23 "Am I a God at hand," says the LORD,

24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places

25 "I have heard what the prophets have said, who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’

26 How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, even the prophets of the deceit of their own heart?

27 They intend to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they each tell his neighbor, as their fathers forgot my name because of Baal.

28 The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat?" says the LORD.

29 "Isn’t my word like fire?" says the LORD; "and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

30 "Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who each steal my words from his neighbor.

31 Behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who use their tongues, and say, ‘He says.’

32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams," says the LORD, "who tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their vain boasting; yet I didn’t send them or command them. They don’t profit this people at all," says the LORD.

33 "When this people, or the prophet, or a priest, asks you, saying, ‘What is the message from the LORD?’ Then you shall tell them, ‘"What message? I will cast you off," says the LORD.’

34 As for the prophet, the priest, and the people, who say, ‘The message from the LORD,’ I will even punish that man and his household.

35 You will say everyone to his neighbor, and everyone to his brother, ‘What has the LORD answered?’ and, ‘What has the LORD said?’

36 You will mention the message from the LORD no more: for every man’s own word has become his message; for you have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of Hosts, our God.

37 You will say to the prophet, ‘What has the LORD answered you?’ and, ‘What has the LORD spoken?’

38 Although you say, ‘The message from the LORD;’ therefore the LORD says: ‘Because you say this word, "The message from the LORD," and I have sent to you, telling you not to say, "The message from the LORD;"

39 therefore, behold, I will utterly forget you, and I will cast you off, and the city that I gave to you and to your fathers, away from my presence.

40 I will bring an everlasting reproach on you, and a perpetual shame, which will not be forgotten.’"