Jeremiah Chapter 23
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
Then Pashhur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper gate of Benjamin, which was in the house of Jehovah.
2
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashhur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, Jehovah hath not called thy name Pashhur, but Magor-missabib.
3
For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends; and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it; and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive to Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword.
4
Moreover I will give all the riches of this city, and all the gains thereof, and all the precious things thereof, yea, all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies; and they shall make them a prey, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.
5
And thou, Pashhur, and all that dwell in thy house shall go into captivity; and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and there shalt thou be buried, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied falsely.
6
O Jehovah, thou hast persuaded me, and I was persuaded; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am become a laughing-stock all the day, every one mocketh me.
7
For as often as I speak, I cry out; I cry, Violence and destruction! because the word of Jehovah is made a reproach unto me, and a derision, all the day.
8
And if I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with forbearing, and I cannot
9
contain.
10
For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side. Denounce, and we will denounce him,
11
say all my familiar friends, they that watch for my fall; peradventure he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
12
But Jehovah is with me as a mighty one
13
and a terrible: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail; they shall be utterly put to shame, because they have not dealt wisely, even with an everlasting dishonor which shall never be forgotten.
14
But, O Jehovah of hosts, that triest the righteous, that seest the heart and the mind, let me see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
15
Sing unto Jehovah, praise ye Jehovah; for he hath delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evil-doers.
16
Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.
17
Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man-child is born unto thee; making him very glad.
18
And let that man be as the cities which Jehovah overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear a cry in the morning, and shouting at noontime;
19
because he slew me not from the womb; and so my mother would have been my grave, and her womb always great.
20
Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
21
The word which came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying,
22
Inquire, I pray thee, of Jehovah for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us: peradventure Jehovah will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.
23
Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:
24
Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans that besiege you, without the walls; and I will gather them into the midst of this city.
25
And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation.
26
And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.
27
And afterward, saith Jehovah, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, even such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
28
And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
29
He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he that goeth out, and passeth over to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.
30
For I have set my face upon this city for evil, and not for good, saith Jehovah: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
31
And touching the house of the king of Judah, hear ye the word of Jehovah:
32
O house of David, thus saith Jehovah, Execute justice in the morning, and deliver him that is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
33
Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley,
34
and of the rock of the plain, saith Jehovah; you that say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?
35
And I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith Jehovah; and I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it shall devour all that is round about her.
36
Thus said Jehovah: Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,
37
and say, Hear the word of Jehovah, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates.
38
Thus saith Jehovah: Execute ye justice and righteousness, and deliver him that is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence, to the sojourner, the fatherless, nor the widow; neither shed innocent blood in this place.
39
For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people.
40
But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith Jehovah, that this house shall become a desolation.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
Woe unto the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith Jehovah.
2
Therefore thus saith Jehovah theGod of Israel concerning the shepherds that feed my people: Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith Jehovah.
3
And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their pastures; and they shall be fruitful and shall multiply.
4
And I will raise up shepherds over them, who shall feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, saith Jehovah.
5
Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, when I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, who shall reign as king, and act wisely, and shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
6
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell in safety; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, Jehovah our Righteousness.
7
Therefore behold, days are coming, saith Jehovah, that they shall no more say, [As] Jehovah liveth, who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
8
but, [As] Jehovah liveth, who brought up and who led back the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them. And they shall dwell in their own land.
9
Concerning the prophets: My heart within me is broken; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome; because of Jehovah, and because of the words of his holiness.
10
For the land is full of adulterers; for because of execration the land mourneth. The pastures of the wilderness are dried up; for their course is evil, and their force is not right.
11
For both prophet and priest are profane: even in my house have I found their wickedness, saith Jehovah.
12
Therefore their way shall be unto them as slippery places in the darkness; they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them in the year of their visitation, saith Jehovah.
13
And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria: they prophesied by Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
14
And in the prophets of Jerusalem have I seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in falsehood, and strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that none doth return from his wickedness. They are all become unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
15
Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts concerning the prophets: Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink water of gall; for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.
16
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they lead you to vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, not out of the mouth of Jehovah.
17
They say constantly unto them that despise me, Jehovah hath said, Ye shall have peace. And they say unto every one that walketh in the stubbornness of his heart, No evil shall come upon you.
18
For who hath stood in the council of Jehovah, so that he hath perceived and heard his word? who hath hearkened to his word and listened?
19
Behold, a tempest of Jehovah, fury is gone forth, yea, a whirling storm: it shall whirl down upon the head of the wicked.
20
The anger of Jehovah shall not return, until he have executed, and until he have performed the purposes of his heart: at the end of the days ye shall understand it clearly.
21
I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
22
But if they had stood in my council, and had caused my people to hear my words, then would they have turned them from their evil way and from the wickedness of their doings.
23
Am I aGod at hand, saith Jehovah, and not aGod afar off?
24
Can any hide himself in secret places, that I shall not see him? saith Jehovah. Do not I fill the heavens and the earth? saith Jehovah.
25
I have heard what the prophets say, who prophesy falsehood in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
26
How long shall [this] be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, and who are prophets of the deceit of their own heart?
27
who 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.
28
The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell the dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith Jehovah.
29
Is not my word like a fire, saith Jehovah; and like a hammer [that] breaketh the rock in pieces?
30
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
31
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that use their tongues, and say, He hath said.
32
Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith Jehovah, and that tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies and by their boasting; and I have not sent them, nor commanded them; and they profit not this people at all, saith Jehovah.
33
And when this people, or a prophet, or a priest, ask thee, saying, What is the burden of Jehovah? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even cast you off, saith Jehovah.
34
And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of Jehovah, I will even punish that man and his house.
35
Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother: What hath Jehovah answered? and, What hath Jehovah spoken?
36
And the burden of Jehovah shall ye mention no more; for every man's own word shall be his burden: for ye have perverted the words of the livingGod, of Jehovah of hosts, ourGod.
37
Thus shalt thou say to the prophet: What hath Jehovah answered thee? and, What hath Jehovah spoken?
38
But since ye say, The burden of Jehovah, therefore thus saith Jehovah: Because ye say this word, The burden of Jehovah, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of Jehovah;
39
therefore behold, I will utterly forget you, and I will cast you off, far from my face, and the city that I gave to you and to your fathers.
40
And I will bring everlasting reproach upon you, and everlasting shame, that shall not be forgotten.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
Woe to the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of their pasture!
2
Therefore thus saith the Lord against them that tend my people; Ye have scattered my sheep, and driven them out, and ye have not visited them: behold, I [will] take vengeance upon you according to your evil practices.
3
And I will gather in the remnant of my people in every land, whither I have driven them out, and will set them in their pasture; and they shall increase and be multiplied.
4
And I will raise up shepherds to them, who shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be alarmed, saith the Lord.
5
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous branch, and a king shall reign and understand, and shall execute judgment and righteousness on the earth.
6
In his days both Juda shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell securely: and this is his name, which the Lord shall call him, Josedec among the prophets.
9
My heart is broken within me; all my bones are shaken: I am become as a broken-down man, and as a man overcome with wine, because of the Lord, and because of the excellence of his glory.
10
For because of these things the land mourns; the pastures of the wilderness are dried up; and their course is become evil, and so [also] their strength.
11
For priest and prophet are defiled; and I have seen their iniquities in my house.
12
Therefore let their way be to them slippery and dark: and they shall be tripped up and fall in it: for I will bring evils upon them, in the year of their visitation.
13
And in the prophets of Samaria I have seen lawless deeds; they prophesied by Baal, and led my people Israel astray.
14
Also in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen horrible things: as they committed adultery, and walked in lies, and strengthened the hands of many, that they should not return each from his evil way: they are all become to me as Sodoma, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrha.
15
Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will feed them with pain, and give them bitter water to drink: for from the prophets of Jerusalem has defilement gone forth [into] all the land.
16
Thus saith the Lord Almighty, Hearken not to the words of the prophets: for they frame a vain vision for themselves; they speak from their own heart, and not from the mouth of the Lord.
17
They say to them that reject the word of the Lord, There shall be peace to you; and to all that walk after their own lusts, and to every one that walks in the error of his heart, they have said, No evil shall come upon thee.
18
For who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, and seen his word? who has hearkened, and heard?
19
Behold, [there is] an earthquake from the Lord, and anger proceeds to a convulsion, it shall come violently upon the ungodly.
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And the Lord's wrath shall return no more, until he have accomplished it, and until he have established it, according to the purpose of his heart: at the end of the days they shall understand it.
21
I sent not the prophets, yet they ran: neither spoke I to them, yet they prophesied.
22
But if they had stood in my counsel, and if they had hearkened to my words, then would they have turned my people from their evil practices.
23
I am a God nigh at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off.
24
Shall any one hide himself in secret places, and I not see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.
25
I have heard what the prophets say, what they prophesy in my name, saying falsely, I have seen a night vision.
26
How long shall [these things] be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies, when they prophesy the purposes of their own heart?
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who devise that [men] may forget my law by their dreams, which they have told every one to his neighbour, as their fathers forgot my name in [the worship of] Baal.
28
The prophet who has a dream, let him tell his dream; and [he] in whom is my word [spoken] to him, let him tell my word truly: what is the chaff to the corn? so are my words, saith the Lord.
29
Behold, are not my words as fire? saith the Lord; and as an axe cutting the rock?
30
Behold, I am therefore against the prophets, saith the Lord God, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
31
Behold, I am against the prophets that put forth prophecies of mere words, and slumber their sleep.
32
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets that prophesy false dreams, and have not told them [truly], and have caused my people to err by their lies, and by their errors; yet I sent them not, and commanded them not; therefore, they shall not profit this people at all.
33
And if this people, or the priest, or the prophet, should ask, What is the burden of the Lord? then thou shalt say to them, Ye are the burden, and I will dash you down, saith the Lord.
34
[As for] the prophet, and the priests, and the people, who shall say, The burden of the Lord, I will even take vengeance on that man, and on his house.
35
Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What has the Lord answered? and, what has the Lord said?
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And do ye name no more the burden of the Lord; for his own word shall be a man's burden.
37
But wherefore, [say ye], has the Lord our God spoken?
38
Therefore thus saith the Lord our God; Because ye have spoken this word, The burden of the Lord, and I sent to you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the Lord;
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therefore, behold, I [will] seize, and dash down you and the city which I gave to you and your fathers.
40
And I will bring upon you an everlasting reproach, and everlasting disgrace, which shall not be forgotten.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Væ pastoribus, qui disperdunt et dilacerant gregem pascuæ meæ, dicit Dominus.
2
Ideo hæc dicit Dominus Deus Israel ad pastores, qui pascunt populum meum: Vos dispersistis gregem meum, et eiecistis eos, et non visitastis eos: ecce ego visitabo super vos malitiam studiorum vestrorum, ait Dominus.
3
Et ego congregabo reliquias gregis mei de omnibus terris, ad quas eiecero eos illuc: et convertam eos ad rura sua: et crescent et multiplicabuntur.
4
Et suscitabo super eos pastores, et pascent eos: non formidabunt ultra, et non pavebunt: et nullus quæretur ex numero, dicit Dominus.
5
Ecce dies veniunt, dicit Dominus: et suscitabo David germen iustum: et regnabit rex, et sapiens erit: et faciet iudicium et iustitiam in terra.
6
In diebus illis salvabitur Iuda, et Israel habitabit confidenter: et hoc est nomen, quod vocabunt eum, Dominus iustus noster.
7
Propter hoc ecce dies veniunt, dicit Dominus, et non dicent ultra: Vivit Domnus, qui eduxit filios Israel de Terra Ægypti:
8
Sed: Vivit Dominus, qui eduxit et adduxit semen domus Israel de Terra Aquilonis, et de cunctis terris, ad quas eieceram eos illuc: et habitabunt in terra sua.
9
Ad prophetas: Contritum est cor meum in medio mei, contremuerunt omnia ossa mea: factus sum quasi vir ebrius, et quasi homo madidus a vino a facie Domini, et a facie verborum sanctorum eius.
10
Quia adulteris repleta est terra, quia a facie maledictionis luxit terra, arefacta sunt arva deserti: factus est cursus eorum malus, et fortitudo eorum dissimilis.
11
Propheta namque et sacerdos polluti sunt: et in domo mea inveni malum eorum, ait Dominus.
12
Idcirco via eorum erit quasi lubricum in tenebris: impellentur enim, et corruent in ea: afferam enim super eos mala, annum visitationis eorum, ait Dominus.
13
Et in prophetis Samariæ vidi fatuitatem: prophetabunt in Baal, et decipiebant populum meum Israel.
14
Et in prophetis Ierusalem vidi similitudinem adulterantium, et iter mendacii: et confortaverunt manus pessimorum ut non converteretur unusquisque a malitia sua: facti sunt mihi omnes ut Sodoma, et habitatores eius quasi Gomorrha.
15
Propterea hæc dicit Dominus exercituum ad prophetas: Ecce ego cibabo eos absinthio, et potabo eos felle: a prophetis enim Ierusalem egressa est pollutio super omnem terram.
16
Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Nolite audire verba prophetarum, qui prophetant vobis, et decipiunt vos: visionem cordis sui loquuntur, non de ore Domini.
17
Dicunt his, qui blasphemant me: Locutus est Dominus: Pax erit vobis, et omni, qui ambulat in pravitate cordis sui, dixerunt: Non veniet super vos malum.
18
Quis enim affuit in consilio Domini, et vidit et audivit sermonem eius? quis consideravit verbum illius et audivit?
19
Ecce turbo Dominicæ indignationis egredietur, et tempestas erumpens: super caput impiorum veniet.
20
Non revertetur furor Domini usque dum faciat, et usque dum compleat cogitationem cordis sui: in novissimis diebus intelligetis consilium eius.
21
Non mittebam prophetas, et ipsi currebant: non loquebar ad eos, et ipsi prophetabant.
22
Si stetissent in consilio meo, et nota fecissent verba mea populo meo, avertissem utique eos a via sua mala, et a cogitationibus suis pessimis.
23
Putasne Deus e vicino ego sum, dicit Dominus? et non Deus de longe?
24
Si occultabitur vir in absconditis: et ego non videbo eum, dicit Dominus? numquid non cælum et terram ego impleo, dicit Dominus?
25
Audivi quæ dixerunt prophetæ, prophetantes in nomine meo mendacium, atque dicentes: Somniavi, somniavi.
26
Usquequo istud est in corde prophetarum vaticinantium mendacium, et prophetantium seductiones cordis sui?
27
Qui volunt facere ut obliviscatur populus meus nominis mei propter somnia eorum, quæ narrat unusquisque ad proximum suum: sicut obliti sunt patres eorum nominis mei propter Baal.
28
Propheta, qui habet somnium, narret somnium: et qui habet sermonem meum, loquatur sermonem meum vere: quid paleis ad triticum, dicit Dominus?
29
Numquid non verba mea sunt quasi ignis, dicit Dominus: et quasi malleus conterens petram?
30
Propterea ecce ego ad prophetas, ait Dominus: qui furantur verba mea unusquisque a proximo suo.
31
Ecce ego ad prophetas, ait Dominus: qui assumunt linguas suas, et aiunt: Dicit Dominus.
32
Ecce ego ad prophetas somniantes mendacium, ait Dominus: qui narraverunt ea, et seduxerunt populum meum in mendacio suo, et in miraculis suis: cum ego non misissem eos, nec mandassem eis, qui nihil profuerunt populo huic, dicit Dominus.
33
Si igitur interrogaverit te populus iste, vel propheta, aut sacerdos, dicens: Quod est onus Domini? dices ad eos: Vos estis onus. proiiciam quippe vos, dicit Dominus.
34
Et propheta, et sacerdos, et populus qui dicit: Onus Domini: visitabo super virum illum, et super domum eius.
35
Hæc dicetis unusquisque ad proximum, et ad fratrem suum: Quid respondit Dominus? et quid locutus est Dominus?
36
Et onus Domini ultra non memorabitur: quia onus erit unicuique sermo suus: et pervertistis verba Dei viventis, Domini exercituum Dei nostri.
37
Hæc dices ad prophetam: Quid respondit tibi Dominus? et quid locutus est Dominus?
38
Si autem onus Domini dixeritis: propter hoc hæc dicit Dominus: Quia dixistis sermonem istum: Onus Domini: et misi ad vos, dicens: Nolite dicere: Onus Domini:
39
Propterea ecce ego tollam vos portans, et derelinquam vos, et civitatem, quam dedi vobis, et patribus vestris a facie mea.
40
Et dabo vos in opprobrium sempiternum, et in ignominiam æternam, quæ numquam oblivione delebitur.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
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, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch; and he will reign as king and deal wisely, and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.
6
In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely. This is his name by which he will be called: The LORD our righteousness.
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: My heart within me is broken. All my bones shake. I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine has overcome, because of the LORD, and because of his holy words.
10
“For the land is full of adulterers; for because of the curse the land mourns. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right;
11
for both prophet and priest are profane. Yes, in my house I have found their wickedness,” says the LORD.
12
Therefore their way will be to them as slippery places in the darkness. They will be driven on, and fall therein; for I will bring evil on them, even the year of their visitation,” says the LORD.
13
“I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria. They prophesied by Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
14
In the prophets of Jerusalem I have also seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one returns from his wickedness. They have all become to me as Sodom, and its inhabitants as Gomorrah.”
15
Therefore the LORD of Armies says concerning the prophets: “Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink poisoned water; for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has gone out into all the land.”
16
The LORD of Armies says, “Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They teach you vanity. They speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
17
They say continually to those who despise me, ‘The LORD has said, “You will have peace;”’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart they say, ‘No evil will come on you.’
18
For who has stood in the council of the LORD, that he should perceive and hear his word? Who has listened to my word, and heard it?
19
Behold, the LORD’s storm, his wrath, has gone out. Yes, a whirling storm! It will burst on the head of the wicked.
20
The LORD’s anger will not return until he has executed and performed the intents of his heart. In the latter days, you will understand it perfectly.
21
I didn’t send these prophets, yet they ran. I didn’t speak to them, yet they prophesied.
22
But if they had stood in my council, then they would have caused my people to hear my words, and would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
23
“Am I a God at hand,” says the LORD, “and not a God afar off?
24
Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I can’t see him?” says the LORD. “Don’t I fill heaven and earth?” says the LORD.
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 Armies, 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 with 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.’”
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
Woe to shepherds destroying, And scattering the flock of My pasture, An affirmation of Jehovah.
2
Therefore, thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, Against the shepherds who feed My people, Ye have scattered My flock, and drive them away, And have not inspected them, Lo, I am charging on you the evil of your doings, An affirmation of Jehovah.
3
And I do gather the remnant of My flock Out of all the lands whither I drove them, And have brought them back unto their fold, And they have been fruitful, and multiplied.
4
And I have raised for them shepherds, And they have fed them, And they fear no more, nor are affrighted, Nor are they lacking--an affirmation of Jehovah.
5
Lo, days are coming--an affirmation of Jehovah, And I have raised to David a righteous shoot, And a king hath reigned and acted wisely, And done judgment and righteousness in the earth.
6
In his days is Judah saved, and Israel dwelleth confidently, And this his name that Jehovah proclaimeth him, `Our Righteousness.'
7
Therefore, lo, days are coming, An affirmation of Jehovah, And they do not say any more, Jehovah liveth who brought up The sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,
8
But--Jehovah liveth, who brought up, And who brought in, the seed of the house of Israel, From the land of the north, And from all the lands whither I drove them, And they have dwelt on their own ground!
9
In reference to the prophets: Broken hath been my heart in my midst, Fluttered have all my bones, I have been as a man--a drunkard, And as a man--wine hath passed over him, Because of Jehovah, and of His holy words.
10
For of adulterers hath the land been full, For because of these hath the land mourned, Dried up hath been the pleasant places of the wilderness, And their course is evil, and their might--not right.
11
For both prophet and priest have been profane, Yea, in My house I found their wickedness, An affirmation of Jehovah.
12
Therefore is their way to them as slippery places, Into thick darkness they are driven, And they have fallen in it, For I bring in against them evil, The year of their inspection, An affirmation of Jehovah.
13
And in prophets of Samaria I have seen folly, They have prophesied by Baal, And cause my people--Israel--to err.
14
And in prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing, Committing adultery, and walking falsely, Yea, they strengthened the hands of evil doers, So that they have not turned back Each from his wickedness, They have been to me--all of them--as Sodom, And its inhabitants as Gomorrah.
15
Therefore, thus said Jehovah of Hosts, concerning the prophets: Lo, I am causing them to eat wormwood, And have caused them to drink water of gall, For, from prophets of Jerusalem Hath profanity gone forth to all the land.
16
Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Ye do not hearken unto the words Of the prophets who are prophesying to you, They are making you vain things, A vision of their own heart they speak, Not from the mouth of Jehovah.
17
Saying diligently to those despising The word of Jehovah: Peace is for you, And <FI>to<Fi> every one walking in the stubbornness of his heart they have said: Evil doth not come in unto you.
18
For who hath stood in the counsel of Jehovah, And seeth and heareth His word? Who hath regarded My word, and hearkeneth?
19
Lo, a whirlwind of Jehovah--Fury hath gone out, even a piercing whirlwind, On the head of the wicked it stayeth.
20
The anger of Jehovah doth not turn back Till His doing, and till His establishing, The thoughts of His heart, In the latter end of the days ye attend to it With understanding.
21
I have not sent the prophets, and they have run, I have not spoken unto them, and they have prophesied.
22
But--if they stood in My counsel, Then they cause My people to hear My words, And they turn them back from their evil way, And from the evil of their doings.
23
A God near <FI>am<Fi> I--an affirmation of Jehovah, And not a God afar off?
24
Is any one hidden in secret places, And I see him not? an affirmation of Jehovah, Do not I fill the heavens and the earth? An affirmation of Jehovah.
25
I have heard that which the prophets said, Who prophesy in My name falsehood, saying, `I have dreamed, I have dreamed.'
26
Till when is it in the heart of the prophets? The prophets of falsehood, Yea, prophets of the deceit of their heart,
27
Who are devising to cause My people To forget My name by their dreams, That they recount each to his neighbour, As their fathers forgot my name for Baal.
28
The prophet with whom <FI>is<Fi> a dream, Let him recount the dream, And he with whom <FI>is<Fi> My word, Let him truly speak My word. What--to the straw with the corn? An affirmation of Jehovah.
29
Is it not thus? My word <FI>is<Fi> as a fire, An affirmation of Jehovah. And as a hammer--it breaketh in pieces a rock.
30
Therefore, lo, I <FI>am<Fi> against the prophets, An affirmation of Jehovah, Stealing My words each from his neighbour.
31
Lo, I <FI>am<Fi> against the prophets, An affirmation of Jehovah, Who are making smooth their tongue, And they affirm--an affirmation.
32
Lo, I <FI>am<Fi> against the prophets of false dreams, An affirmation of Jehovah, And they recount them, and cause my people to err, By their falsehoods, and by their instability, And I--I have not sent them, Nor have I commanded them, And they are not at all profitable to this people, An affirmation of Jehovah.
33
And when this people, or the prophet, Or a priest, doth ask thee, saying, What <FI>is<Fi> the burden of Jehovah? Then thou hast said unto them: Ye <FI>are<Fi> the burden, and I have left you, An affirmation of Jehovah.
34
And the prophet, and the priest, and the people, That saith, The burden of Jehovah, I have seen after that man, and after his house.
35
Thus do ye say each unto his neighbour, And each unto his brother: What hath Jehovah answered? And what hath Jehovah spoken?
36
And the burden of Jehovah ye do not mention any more, For the burden to each is--His word, And ye have overturned the words of the living God, Jehovah of Hosts, our God.
37
Thus dost thou say unto the prophet What hath Jehovah answered thee? And what hath Jehovah spoken?
38
And if the burden of Jehovah ye say, Therefore thus said Jehovah: Because of your saying this word, The burden of Jehovah, And I do send unto you, saying, Ye do not say, The burden of Jehovah.
39
Therefore, lo, I--I have taken you utterly away, And I have sent you out, And the city that I gave to you, And to your fathers, from before My face,
40
And I have put on you reproach age-during, And shame age-during that is not forgotten!
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).