Jeremiah 23:17-36
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 23
17They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The Lord has said, 'You will have peace'?’; And as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, They say, ‘Disaster will not come on you.’ 18But who has stood in the council of the Lord, That he should see and hear His word? Who has paid attention to His word and listened? 19Behold, the storm of the Lord has gone forth in wrath, Even a whirling tempest; It will swirl down on the head of the wicked. 20The anger of the Lord will not turn back Until He has performed and carried out the purposes of His heart; In the last days you will clearly understand it. 21I did not send these prophets, But they ran. I did not speak to them, But they prophesied. 22But if they had stood in My council, Then they would have announced 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 near,' declares the Lord, 'And not a God far off? 24Can a person hide himself in hiding places So that I do not see him?' declares the Lord. 'Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?' declares the Lord.
25I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, ‘I had a dream, I had a dream!’
26How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, these prophets of the deceitfulness of their own heart,
27who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they report to one another, just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal?
28The prophet who has a dream may report his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word truthfully. What does straw have in common with grain?' declares the Lord.
29Is My word not like fire?' declares the Lord, 'and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
30Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,' declares the Lord, 'who steal My words from each other.
31Behold, I am against the prophets,' declares the Lord, 'who use their tongues and declare, ‘ The Lord declares!’
32Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams,' declares the Lord, 'and reported them and led My people astray by their lies and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them nor command them, nor do they provide this people the slightest benefit,' declares the Lord.
33Now when this people or the prophet or a priest asks you, saying, ‘What is the pronouncement of the Lord?’ then you shall say to them, ‘What pronouncement?’ The Lord declares, ‘I will abandon you.’
34Then as for the prophet or the priest or the people who say, ‘The pronouncement 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: ‘What 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 perverted the words of the living God, the Lord of armies, our God.
King James Version
24Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.
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 the Lord.
29Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
30Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
31Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
32Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, 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 the Lord.
33And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord.
34And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the Lord, I will even punish that man and his house.
35Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the Lord answered? and, What hath the Lord spoken?
36And the burden of the Lord 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 the Lord of hosts our God.
Christian Standard Bible
18For who has stood in the council of the Lord to see and hear his word? Who has paid attention to his word and obeyed?
19Look, a storm from the Lord! Wrath has gone out, a whirling storm. It will whirl about the heads of the wicked.
20The Lord’s anger will not turn away until he has completely fulfilled the purposes of his heart. In time to come you will understand it clearly.
21I did not send out these prophets, yet they ran. I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.
22If they had really stood in my council, they would have enabled my people to hear my words and would have turned them from their evil ways and their evil deeds.
23"Am I a God who is only near" —this is the Lord’s declaration—"and not a God who is far away?
24Can a person hide in secret places where I cannot see him?" —the Lord’s declaration. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" —the Lord’s declaration.
25"I have heard what the prophets who prophesy a lie in my name have said: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’
26How long will this continue in the minds of the prophets prophesying lies, prophets of the deceit of their own minds?
27Through their dreams that they tell one another, they plan to cause my people to forget my name as their fathers forgot my name through Baal worship.
28The prophet who has only a dream should recount the dream, but the one who has my word should speak my word truthfully, for what is straw compared to grain?"—this is the Lord’s declaration.
29"Is not my word like fire"—this is the Lord’s declaration—"and like a hammer that pulverizes rock?
30Therefore, take note! I am against the prophets" —the Lord’s declaration—"who steal my words from each other.
31I am against the prophets"—the Lord’s declaration—"who use their own tongues to make a declaration.
32I am against those who prophesy false dreams" —the Lord’s declaration—"telling them and leading my people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people"—this is the Lord’s declaration.
33"Now when these people or a prophet or a priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the Lord?’ you will respond to them, ‘What is the burden? I will throw you away! This is the Lord’s declaration.’
34As for the prophet, priest, or people who say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ I will punish that man and his household.
35This is what each man is to say to his friend and to his brother: ‘What has the Lord answered?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’
36But no longer refer to the burden of the Lord, for each man’s word becomes his burden and you pervert the words of the living God, the Lord of Armies, our God.
New Living Translation
18'Have any of these prophets been in the Lord’s presence to hear what he is really saying? Has even one of them cared enough to listen?
19Look! The Lord’s anger bursts out like a storm, a whirlwind that swirls down on the heads of the wicked.
20The anger of the Lord will not diminish until it has finished all he has planned. In the days to come you will understand all this very clearly.
21'I have not sent these prophets, yet they run around claiming to speak for me. I have given them no message, yet they go on prophesying.
22If they had stood before me and listened to me, they would have spoken my words, and they would have turned my people from their evil ways and deeds.
23Am I a God who is only close at hand?' says the Lord. 'No, I am far away at the same time.
24Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?' says the Lord.
25I have heard these prophets say, ‘Listen to the dream I had from God last night.’ And then they proceed to tell lies in my name.
26How long will this go on? If they are prophets, they are prophets of deceit, inventing everything they say.
27By telling these false dreams, they are trying to get my people to forget me, just as their ancestors did by worshiping the idols of Baal.
28'Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word. There is a difference between straw and grain!
29Does not my word burn like fire?' says the Lord. 'Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?
30Therefore,' says the Lord, 'I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from me.
31I am against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, ‘This prophecy is from the Lord!’
32I am against these false prophets. Their imaginary dreams are flagrant lies that lead my people into sin. I did not send or appoint them, and they have no message at all for my people. I, the Lord, have spoken!
34If any prophet, priest, or anyone else says, ‘I have a prophecy from the Lord,’ I will punish that person along with his entire family.
35You should keep asking each other, ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What is the Lord saying?’
36But stop using this phrase, ‘prophecy from the Lord.’ For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the words of our God, the living God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
English Standard Version
18For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened?
19 Behold, the storm of the Lord! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked.
20 The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it clearly.
21 "I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their deeds.
23"Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away?
24Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.
25I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’
26How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart,
27who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal?
28Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord.
29Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
30Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who steal my words from one another.
31Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who use their tongues and declare, ‘declares the Lord.’
32Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the Lord, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord.
33"When one of this people, or a prophet or a priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the Lord?’ you shall say to them, ‘You are the burden, and I will cast you off, declares the Lord.’
34And as for the prophet, priest, or one of the people who says, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ I will punish that man and his household.
35Thus shall you say, every one to his neighbor and every one to his brother, ‘What has the Lord answered?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’
36But ‘the burden of the Lord’ you shall mention no more, for the burden is every man 's own word, and you pervert the words of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God.
New International Version
Chapter 23
17They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’ 18But which of them has stood in the council of the Lord to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word? 19See, the storm of the Lord will burst out in wrath, a whirlwind swirling down on the heads of the wicked. 20The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come you will understand it clearly. 21I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.
22But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.
23"Am I only a God nearby," declares the Lord, "and not a God far away?
24Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the Lord. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord.
25"I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’
26How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?
27They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship.
28Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For 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 breaks a rock in pieces?
30"Therefore," declares the Lord, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me.
31Yes," declares the Lord, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’
32Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the Lord. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the Lord.
33"When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the message from the Lord?’ say to them, ‘What message? I will forsake you, declares the Lord.’
34If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ I will punish them and their household.
35This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’
36But you must not mention ‘a message from the Lord’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, the Lord Almighty, our God.
New King James Version
Chapter 23
17They continually say to those who despise Me, ‘The Lord has said, “You shall have peace” ’; And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’ ” 18For who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, And has perceived and heard His word? Who has marked His word and heard it? 19Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord has gone forth in fury— A violent whirlwind! It will fall violently on the head of the wicked. 20The anger of the Lord will not turn back Until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly. 21“I 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 would have turned them from their evil way And from the evil of their doings. 23“ Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “And not a God afar off? 24Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.
25“I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’
26How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart,
27who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for 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 chaff to the wheat?” says the Lord.
29“ Is not My word like a 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 steal My words every one from his neighbor.
31Behold, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’
32Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” says the Lord, “and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all,” says the Lord.
33“So when these people or the prophet or the priest ask you, saying, ‘What is the oracle of the Lord?’ you shall then say to them, ‘What oracle?’ I will even forsake you,” says the Lord.
34“And as for the prophet and the priest and the people who say, ‘The oracle of the Lord!’ I will even punish that man and his house.
35Thus every one of you shall say to his neighbor, and every one to his brother, ‘What has the Lord answered?’ and, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’
36And the oracle of the Lord you shall mention no more. For every man’s word will be his oracle, for you have perverted the words of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God.
