Jeremiah 23
1 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! — declares the LORD.
2 Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend my people: “You scattered my sheep, drove them away, and did not care for them. Look, I am going to punish you for the evil you have done — declares the LORD.
3 I myself will gather the remnant of my sheep from all the lands where I drove them, and bring them back to their pastures. They will be fruitful and multiply.
4 I will appoint shepherds over them who will tend them. They will no longer be afraid or terrified, and none will be missing — declares the LORD.
5 Look, the days are coming — declares the LORD — when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch. He will reign as king, act wisely, and do what is just and right in the land.
6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Is Our Righteousness.
7 Therefore, the days are coming — declares the LORD — when people will no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up from the land of Egypt.’
8 Instead, they will say, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where he had driven them.’ They will live on their own soil.”
9 Concerning the prophets: my heart is broken within me; all my bones tremble. I am like a drunk man, like a man overcome by wine, because of the LORD and his holy words.
10 For the land is full of adulterers. Because of the curse, the land is in mourning, and the pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course is evil, and their power is misused.
11 Both prophet and priest are corrupt; even in my house I have found their wickedness — declares the LORD.
12 Therefore their way will be slippery ground for them in the dark; they will be driven along and fall there. For I will bring disaster upon them, the year of their punishment — declares the LORD.
13 Among Samaria’s prophets I saw something senseless: they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.
14 Among Jerusalem’s prophets I saw something horrible: they commit adultery and live by lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his wickedness. To me they have all become like Sodom, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.
15 Therefore, this is what the LORD of hosts says about the prophets: “Look, I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for corruption has spread throughout the land from Jerusalem’s prophets.”
16 This is what the LORD of hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They fill you with illusions. They speak visions from their own hearts, not from the mouth of the LORD.
17 They keep telling those who despise me, ‘The LORD has said, “You will have peace.”’ And to everyone who follows the stubbornness of his own heart they say, ‘No disaster will come upon you.’
18 For who has stood in the LORD’s council to see and hear his word? Who has paid attention to his word and listened?
19 Look, the storm of the LORD, his fury, has gone out; a whirling tempest will sweep down upon the heads of the wicked.
20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has carried out and fulfilled the plans of his heart. In the days to come you will understand this clearly.
21 I did not send these prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.
22 If they had stood in my council, they would have made my people hear my words and turned them back from their evil way and from the wickedness of their deeds.
23 Am I a God who is near — declares the LORD — and not a God who is far away?
24 Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him? — declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? — declares the LORD.
25 I have heard what the prophets who prophesy lies in my name say: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’
26 How long will this go on? Is this in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy lies, prophets of the deceit of their own hearts?
27 They intend, through the dreams they tell one another, to make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name because of Baal.”
28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word truthfully. What has straw to do with grain? — declares the LORD.
29 Is not my word like fire — declares the LORD — and like a hammer that shatters rock?
30 Therefore, look, I am against the prophets — declares the LORD — who steal my words from one another.
31 Look, I am against the prophets — declares the LORD — who wag their tongues and proclaim, ‘A declaration!’
32 Look, I am against those who prophesy false dreams — declares the LORD — and tell them, leading my people astray with their lies and recklessness. I did not send them or command them, and they bring no benefit to this people — declares the LORD.
33 When this people, or a prophet or a priest, asks you, ‘What is the burden of the LORD?’ you will say to them, ‘What burden?’ And I will abandon you — declares the LORD.
34 As for the prophet, the priest, or the people who say, ‘The burden of the LORD,’ I will punish that man and his household.
35 This is what each of you will say to his companion and to his brother: ‘What answer has the LORD given?’ and ‘What has the LORD said?’
36 But you must no longer mention ‘the burden of the LORD,’ for the burden will become each person’s own word, and you have twisted the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God.
37 This is what you will say to the prophet: ‘What answer has the LORD given you?’ and ‘What has the LORD said?’
38 But if you say, ‘The burden of the LORD,’ then this is what the LORD says: “Because you use this phrase, ‘The burden of the LORD,’ when I sent word to you, ‘Do not say, “The burden of the LORD,”’
39 therefore, look, I will surely forget you and abandon you, along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors, driving you from my presence.
40 I will bring upon you everlasting disgrace and lasting humiliation, which will never be forgotten.”
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