Jeremiah 14:13-22

English Standard Version

Lying Prophets

¹³Then I said: “Ah, Lord God, behold, the prophets ^(A)say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’” ¹⁴And the Lord said to me: “The ^(B)prophets are prophesying lies in my name. ^(C)I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, ^(D)worthless divination, and ^(E)the deceit of their own minds. ¹⁵Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although ^(F)I did not send them, and who say, ^(G)‘Sword and famine shall not come upon this land’: ^(H)By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. ¹⁶And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, ^(I)with none to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them.

¹⁷“You shall say to them this word:
^(J)‘Let my eyes run down with tears night and day,
    and let them not cease,
for the virgin ^(K)daughter of my people is shattered with a great wound,
    ^(L)with a very grievous blow.
¹⁸^(M)If I go out into the field,
    behold, those pierced by the sword!
^(N)And if I enter the city,
    behold, the diseases of famine!
^(O)For both prophet and priest ply their trade through the land
    and have no knowledge.’”

¹⁹^(P)Have you utterly rejected Judah?
    Does your soul loathe Zion?
Why have you struck us down
    ^(Q)so that there is no healing for us?
^(R)We looked for peace, but no good came;
    ^(S)for a time of healing, but behold, terror.
²⁰^(T)We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord,
    and the iniquity of our fathers,
    ^(U)for we have sinned against you.
²¹Do not spurn us, ^(V)for your name's sake;
    do not dishonor your glorious throne;
    ^(W)remember and do not break your covenant with us.
²²Are there any among ^(X)the false gods of the nations ^(Y)that can bring rain?
    Or can the heavens give showers?
Are you not he, O Lord our God?
    We set our hope on you,
    ^(Z)for you do all these things.