Jeremiah 23
Jeremiah 23
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh. Verse 2. Therefore Yahweh, 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 Yahweh. Verse 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. Verse 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 Yahweh.
Verse 7. “Therefore, behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that they will no more say, ‘As Yahweh lives, who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;’ Verse 8. but, ‘As Yahweh 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.”
Verse 9. Concerning the prophets:
Verse 15. Therefore Yahweh of Armies says concerning the prophets:
Verse 16. Yahweh of Armies says,
Verse 25. “I have heard what the prophets have said, who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ Verse 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? Verse 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. Verse 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 Yahweh. Verse 29. “Isn’t my word like fire?” says Yahweh; “and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
Verse 30. “Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who each steal my words from his neighbor. Verse 31. Behold, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who use their tongues, and say, ‘He says.’ Verse 32. Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams,” says Yahweh, “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 Yahweh.
Verse 33. “When this people, or the prophet, or a priest, asks you, saying, ‘What is the message from Yahweh?’ Then you shall tell them, ‘“What message? I will cast you off,” says Yahweh.’ Verse 34. As for the prophet, the priest, and the people, who say, ‘The message from Yahweh,’ I will even punish that man and his household. Verse 35. You will say everyone to his neighbor, and everyone to his brother, ‘What has Yahweh answered?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh said?’ Verse 36. You will mention the message from Yahweh no more, for every man’s own word has become his message; for you have perverted the words of the living God, of Yahweh of Armies, our God. Verse 37. You will say to the prophet, ‘What has Yahweh answered you?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh spoken?’ Verse 38. Although you say, ‘The message from Yahweh,’ therefore Yahweh says: ‘Because you say this word, “The message from Yahweh,” and I have sent to you, telling you not to say, “The message from Yahweh,” Verse 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. Verse 40. I will bring an everlasting reproach on you, and a perpetual shame, which will not be forgotten.’”