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耶利米书 23
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
耶利米书 23
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
将来的盼望
23 耶和华说：“那些本应像牧人照顾羊群一样统治我子民的人有祸了！因为他们残害、驱散我的子民。” 2 以色列的上帝耶和华这样斥责那些统治祂子民的首领：“你们驱散我的子民，没有照顾他们。看啊，我必因你们的恶行而惩罚你们。这是耶和华说的。 3 我要把我幸存的子民从我流放他们去的各地召集起来，领他们回到故土，使他们子孙兴旺。 4 我要派首领照顾他们，使他们不再担惊受怕，也不再有一人迷失。这是耶和华说的。”
5 耶和华说：“看啊，时候将到，我要为大卫选立一个公义的苗裔，使他执掌王权。他必秉公行义，治国有方。 6 在他掌权的日子，犹大必得拯救，以色列必国泰民安。他将被称为‘耶和华是我们的公义’。”
7 耶和华说：“看啊，时候将到，那时人不再凭把以色列人带出埃及的耶和华起誓， 8 而是凭把他们从流放之地——北方和列国领回来的永活耶和华起誓。他们必在自己的国土上安居乐业。”
9 论到那些先知，
我的心都碎了，
我的骨头都颤抖。
因为耶和华和祂圣言的缘故，
我好像不胜酒力的醉汉。
10 这里到处是拜偶像的人，
他们行为邪恶，滥用权力。
大地因受咒诅而悲哀，
旷野的草场都枯干了。
11 耶和华说：“先知和祭司都不敬虔，
我甚至看见他们在我的圣殿里行恶。
12 因此，他们必被赶到黑暗中，
在湿滑的路上跌倒，
因为我必在报应的日子降灾祸给他们。
这是耶和华说的。
13 我看见撒玛利亚的先知行为可憎，
他们靠巴力说预言，
引诱我的子民走入歧途。
14 我也看见耶路撒冷的先知行为可恶，
他们通奸，谎话连篇，
怂恿恶人，
以致无人悔过自新。
在我眼中，耶路撒冷人就像 所多玛人和蛾摩拉人一样败坏。
15 因此，论到这些先知，
万军之耶和华说，
‘看啊，我要使他们吃苦艾，
喝毒药，因为亵渎之风从耶路撒冷的先知那里蔓延，
遍及全境。’”
16 万军之耶和华对祂的子民说：“你们不要听信这些先知的预言，他们使你们充满虚假的盼望，他们的预言是自己编的，不是耶和华说的。 17 他们不断对藐视我的人说，‘耶和华说你们必安享太平。’他们对那些执迷不悟的人说，‘灾祸不会降到你们身上。’
18 “然而，他们谁曾站在耶和华面前看见并听见祂说话呢？
他们谁曾留心听祂的话呢？
19 看啊，耶和华的怒气像暴风一样袭来，
像旋风一样吹到恶人头上。
20 耶和华不完成祂心中的计划决不息怒。
将来你们会清楚地明白这一切。
21 “我没有差遣这些先知，
他们却妄自行动；
我没有对他们说话，
他们却乱发预言。
22 他们若曾站在我面前听我说话，
早就向我的子民宣告我的话，
使他们改邪归正了。”
23 耶和华说：“我是无处不在的上帝。” 24 耶和华说：“难道人藏起来我就看不见了吗？我岂不是充满天地之间吗？这是耶和华说的。 25 我听见假先知奉我的名说，‘上帝托梦给我了！上帝托梦给我了！’ 26 这些先知谎话连篇，凭空预言要到何时呢？ 27 他们彼此传讲所做的梦，想借此使我的子民忘记我，正如他们的祖先因祭拜巴力而忘记了我。 28 让做梦的先知尽管宣扬他们的梦吧，但得到我话语的先知要忠心地传达我的话。糠秕怎能与麦子相比呢！这是耶和华说的。” 29 耶和华说：“难道我的话不像火吗？不像击碎岩石的铁锤吗？” 30 耶和华说：“看啊，我要对付那些假先知，他们盗用同伙的话，却妄称是我的话。” 31 耶和华说：“看啊，我要对付那些假先知，他们妄自说预言，却谎称是耶和华的话。” 32 耶和华说：“看啊，我要对付那些假先知，他们谎称我托梦给他们，四处宣扬，用弥天大谎把我的子民引入歧途。其实我并没有差遣他们，也没有委派他们，他们对我的子民毫无益处。这是耶和华说的。”
33 耶和华说：“耶利米啊，如果有百姓、先知或祭司问你，‘耶和华有什么启示？’你要对他们说，‘你们就是耶和华的重担[a]，耶和华说要丢弃你们。’ 34 如果有先知、祭司或百姓宣称有耶和华的启示，我必惩罚他和他全家。 35 你们各人要问自己的亲友，‘耶和华有什么答复？’或‘耶和华说了什么？’ 36 你们不可再说有耶和华的启示，因为你们把自己的话当成祂的启示，曲解你们永活的上帝——万军之耶和华的话。 37 耶利米啊，你要这样问先知，‘耶和华有什么答复？耶和华说了什么？’ 38 如果他们说，‘这是耶和华的启示。’你就说，‘耶和华说，你们无视我的警告，宣称有我的启示， 39 我必彻底忘记你们，把你们和我赐给你们及你们祖先的城邑抛弃。 40 我要使你们永远蒙羞受辱、遗臭万年。’”
Footnotes
- 23:33 “重担”希伯来文也有“启示”的意思。
耶利米书 23
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
耶利米书 23
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
將來的指望
23 “那些殘殺和趕散我牧場上的羊群的牧人，有禍了！”這是耶和華的宣告。 2 因此，耶和華以色列的 神論到牧養他（“他”原文作“我”）子民的牧人這樣說：“你們使我的羊群四散，把牠們趕走，並沒有看顧牠們；看哪！我必因你們的惡行懲罰你們。”這是耶和華的宣告。 3 “我要親自把我羊群中餘剩的，從我把牠們趕逐到的各地，招聚出來，領牠們歸回自己的羊圈，使牠們繁殖增多。 4 我要興起牧人，牧養牠們；牠們必不再恐懼驚慌，一個也不會失掉。”這是耶和華的宣告。
5 “看哪！日子快到
（這是耶和華的宣告），
我必給大衛興起一個公義的苗裔；
他必執政為王，行事有智慧，
在地上施行公正和公義。
6 在他執政的日子，猶大必得救，
以色列也必安然居住。
人要稱他的名字為‘耶和華我們的義’。”
7 “因此，看哪！日子快到（這是耶和華的宣告），人不再指著那領以色列人從埃及地上來的永活的耶和華起誓， 8 卻要指著那領以色列家的後裔從北方之地、從他（“他”原文作“我”）把他們趕逐到的各地上來的、永活的耶和華起誓。他們就必住在自己的地方。”
假先知的罪惡與報應
9 論到那些先知，
我的心在我裡面破碎，
我全身的骨頭都發抖。
因為耶和華的緣故，
又因為他的聖言的緣故，
我就像一個醉酒的人，
像一個被酒灌醉的人。
10 因為這地滿了行淫的人；
因受咒詛，地就悲哀，
曠野的草場都枯乾了；
他們走的路是邪惡的，
他們的權力誤用了。
11 “先知和祭司都不敬虔，
甚至在我殿裡我也看見他們的邪惡。”
這是耶和華的宣告。
12 “因此，他們的路必像滑地；
他們必被趕逐到黑暗中，
必在那裡仆倒。
因為到了懲罰他們的年日，
我必使災禍臨到他們。”
這是耶和華的宣告。
13 “在撒瑪利亞的先知中，
我看見可厭的事：
他們竟奉巴力的名說預言，
使我的子民以色列走錯了路。
14 在耶路撒冷的先知中，
我看見可怕的事。
他們犯姦淫，行事虛假，
堅固惡人的手，
以致沒有人離棄惡行；
在我看來，他們都像所多瑪人，
耶路撒冷的居民也像蛾摩拉人一樣。”
15 因此，論到這些先知，萬軍之耶和華這樣說：
“看哪！我必使他們吃苦堇，喝毒水，
因為有不敬虔的風氣，
從耶路撒冷的先知中散播出來，遍及全地。”
16 萬軍之耶和華這樣說：
“不要聽從這些向你們說預言的先知所說的話，
他們使你們存有虛幻的希望；
他們所講的異象是出於自己的心思，
不是出於耶和華的口。
17 他們不斷對那些藐視我的人說：
‘耶和華說：你們必平安無事！’
又對所有隨從自己頑梗的心行事的人說：
‘災禍必不臨到你們！’”
18 可是他們中間有誰曾參與耶和華的議會，
看見或聽見他的話呢？
有誰曾留心聽他的話而實在聽見呢？
19 看哪！耶和華的旋風，
在震怒中發出，
是旋轉的狂風，
必捲到惡人的頭上。
20 耶和華的怒氣必不轉消，
直到他作成和實現他心中的計劃。
在末後的日子，
你們就會完全明白這事。
21 “我沒有差派這些先知，
但他們自己到處跑；
我沒有對他們說話，
他們竟擅自說預言。
22 如果他們曾參與我的議會，
就必向我的子民宣告我的信息，
使他們轉離他們的惡道，
離開他們的惡行。
23 難道我只是近處的 神嗎？
不也是遠處的 神嗎？”
這是耶和華的宣告。
24 “人怎能躲藏在隱密處，
以致我看不見他呢？
（這是耶和華的宣告）。
我豈不是充滿天地嗎？”
這是耶和華的宣告。
25 “那些先知所說的話我都聽見了，他們冒我的名說虛假的預言：‘我作了夢！我作了夢！’ 26 那些先知心裡存著這樣的意念要到幾時呢？他們說虛假的預言，說出自己心中的詭詐； 27 他們以為藉著互相傳述自己的夢，就可以使我的子民忘記我的名，好像他們的列祖因巴力忘記了我的名一樣。 28 作了夢的先知，讓他把夢述說出來；但得了我話語的先知，該忠實地傳講我的話。禾稈怎能和麥子相比呢？”這是耶和華的宣告。 29 “我的話不是像火，不是像能打碎巖石的大鎚嗎？”這是耶和華的宣告。 30 “所以，看哪！那些先知互相偷取對方的話，當作我的話，我要對付他們。”這是耶和華的宣告。 31 “看哪！那些先知用自己的舌頭說：‘這是耶和華的宣告’，我要對付他們。”這是耶和華的宣告。 32 “看哪！那些藉虛假的夢說預言的，我要對付他們。”這是耶和華的宣告。“他們述說這些夢，以虛謊和誇張的話使我的子民走錯了路。我沒有差派他們，也沒有吩咐他們；他們對這人民毫無益處。”這是耶和華的宣告。
耶和華的默示
33 “如果這人民、或先知、或祭司問你說：‘耶和華有甚麼默示呢？’你要回答他們：‘你們就是重擔（按照《馬索拉文本》，“你們就是重擔”應作“甚麼默示？”；現參照《七十士譯本》翻譯。“重擔”和“默示”原文是同一個字），我要丟棄你們。’”這是耶和華的宣告。 34 “無論是先知、是祭司，或是人民，凡說‘這是耶和華的默示’的，我都要懲罰那人和他的家。”
35 你們各人對自己的鄰舍，對自己的兄弟要這樣說：“耶和華回答了甚麼？耶和華說了甚麼？” 36 你們不可再提耶和華的默示，你們各人所說的話將成為自己的重擔；因為你們曲解永活的 神萬軍之耶和華我們 神的話了。 37 你們要對 神的先知（“你們要對 神的先知”或譯：“耶利米啊，你要對那些先知”）說：“耶和華回答了你甚麼？耶和華說了甚麼呢？” 38 如果你們仍說：“這是耶和華的默示”，耶和華就必這樣說：“你們既然說‘這是耶和華的默示’這句話，而我又曾差派人去告訴你們不可再說‘這是耶和華的默示’； 39 因此，看哪！我必把你們當作重擔舉起來（“我必把你們當作重擔舉起來”或譯：“我必定忘記你們”），把你們連同我賜給你們和你們列祖的城都從我面前丟棄。 40 我必使你們蒙受永遠的凌辱、永遠的羞恥，是不能忘記的。”
Jeremiah 23
Complete Jewish Bible
Jeremiah 23
Complete Jewish Bible
23 “Oh no! The shepherds are destroying and scattering the sheep in my pasture!” says Adonai. 2 Therefore this is what Adonai, the God of Isra’el, says against the shepherds who shepherd my people: “You have scattered my flock, driven them away and not taken care of them. So I will ‘take care of’ you because of your evil deeds,” says Adonai. 3 “I myself will gather what remains of my flock from all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their homes, and they will be fruitful and increase their numbers. 4 I will appoint shepherds over them who will shepherd them; then they will no longer be afraid or disgraced; and none will be missing,” says Adonai.
5 “The days are coming,” says Adonai
when I will raise a righteous Branch for David.
He will reign as king and succeed,
he will do what is just and right in the land.
6 In his days Y’hudah will be saved,
Isra’el will live in safety,
and the name given to him will be
Adonai Tzidkenu [Adonai our righteousness].
7 “Therefore,” says Adonai, “the day will come when people no longer swear, ‘As Adonai lives, who brought the people of Isra’el out of the land of Egypt,’ 8 but, ‘As Adonai lives, who brought the descendants of the house of Isra’el up from the land to the north’ and from all the countries where I drove them. Then they will live in their own land.”
9 Concerning the prophets:
My heart within me is broken,
all my bones are shaking;
I am like a drunk,
like a man overcome by wine,
because of Adonai,
because of his holy words.
10 For the land is full of adulterers;
because of a curse the land is in mourning —
the desert pastures have dried up.
Their course is evil, their power misused.
11 “Both prophet and cohen are godless;
In my own house I find their wickedness,” says Adonai.
12 “Therefore their way will be slippery for them;
they will be driven into darkness and fall there.
For I will bring disaster upon them,
their year of punishment,” says Adonai.
13 “I have seen inappropriate conduct
in the prophets of Shomron —
they prophesied by Ba‘al
and led my people Isra’el astray.
14 But in the prophets of Yerushalayim
I have seen a horrible thing —
they commit adultery, live in lies,
so encouraging evildoers
that none returns from his sin.
For me they have all become like S’dom,
its inhabitants like ‘Amora.”
15 Therefore, this is what Adonai-Tzva’ot says concerning the prophets:
“I will feed them bitter wormwood
and make them drink poisonous water,
for ungodliness has spread through all the land
from the prophets of Yerushalayim.”
16 Adonai-Tzva’ot says:
“Don’t listen to the words of the prophets
who are prophesying to you.
They are making you act foolishly,
telling you visions from their own minds
and not from the mouth of Adonai.
17 They keep reassuring those who despise me,
‘Adonai says you will be safe and secure,’
and saying to all living by their own stubborn hearts,
‘Nothing bad will happen to you.’
18 But which of them has been present at the council
of Adonai to see and hear his word?
Who has paid attention to
his word enough to hear it?”
19 Look! The storm of Adonai,
bursting out in fury,
a whirling storm, whirling down
upon the heads of the wicked!
20 Adonai’s anger will not abate
till he fully accomplishes the purpose in his heart.
In the acharit-hayamim,
you will understand everything.
21 “I did not send these prophets; yet they ran.
I did not speak to them; yet they prophesied.
22 If they have been present at my council,
they should let my people hear my words
and turn them from their evil way
and the evil of their actions.
23 Am I God only when near,” asks Adonai,
“and not when far away?
24 Can anyone hide in a place so secret
that I won’t see him?” asks Adonai.
Adonai says, “Do I not
fill heaven and earth?
25 “I have heard what these prophets prophesying lies in my name are saying: ‘I’ve had a dream! I’ve had a dream!’ 26 How long will this go on? Is [my word] in the hearts of prophets who are prophesying lies, who are prophesying the deceit of their own minds? 27 With their dreams that they keep telling each other, they hope to cause my people to forget my name; just as their ancestors forgot my name when they worshipped Ba‘al.
28 “If a prophet has a dream,
let him tell it as a dream.
But someone who has my word
should speak my word faithfully.
What do chaff and wheat
have in common?” asks Adonai.
29 “Isn’t my word like fire,” asks Adonai,
“like a hammer shattering rocks?
30 So, I am against the prophets,” says Adonai,
“who steal my words from each other.
31 Yes, I am against the prophets,” says Adonai,
“who speak their own words, then add, ‘He says.’
32 “I am against those who concoct prophecies out of fake dreams,” says Adonai. “They tell them, and by their lies and arrogance they lead my people astray. I didn’t send them, I didn’t commission them, and they don’t do this people any good at all,” says Adonai.
33 “When [someone from] this people, a prophet or a cohen asks you, ‘What is the burden of Adonai?’ you are to answer them, ‘What burden? I am throwing you off,’ says Adonai. 34 As for a prophet, cohen or [someone else from] this people who speaks about ‘the burden of Adonai,’ I will punish him and his household.”
35 So, when you speak with your neighbor or brother, ask, “What answer has Adonai given?” or “What has Adonai said?” 36 Don’t use the expression, “burden of Adonai” any more; for every person’s own word will be his burden. Must you twist the words of the living God, of Adonai-Tzva’ot, our God? 37 So, when speaking to a prophet, ask, “What answer has Adonai given you?” or “What did Adonai say?” 38 But if you talk about “the burden of Adonai,” then here is what Adonai says: “Because you use this expression, ‘the burden of Adonai,’ after I have already sent you the order not to say, ‘the burden of Adonai,’ 39 I will lift you up, burden that you are, and throw you off, away from my presence — you and the city I gave you and your ancestors. 40 Then I will subject you to everlasting disgrace — eternal, unforgettable shame.”
Jeremiah 23
New International Version
Jeremiah 23
New International Version
The Righteous Branch
23 “Woe to the shepherds(A) who are destroying and scattering(B) the sheep of my pasture!”(C) declares the Lord. 2 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds(D) who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock(E) and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil(F) you have done,” declares the Lord. 3 “I myself will gather the remnant(G) of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture,(H) where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds(I) over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid(J) or terrified, nor will any be missing,(K)” declares the Lord.
5 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will raise up for David[a] a righteous Branch,(L)
a King(M) who will reign(N) wisely
and do what is just and right(O) in the land.
6 In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.(P)
This is the name(Q) by which he will be called:
The Lord Our Righteous Savior.(R)
7 “So then, the days are coming,”(S) declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’(T) 8 but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.”(U)
Lying Prophets
9 Concerning the prophets:
My heart(V) is broken within me;
all my bones tremble.(W)
I am like a drunken man,
like a strong man overcome by wine,
because of the Lord
and his holy words.(X)
10 The land is full of adulterers;(Y)
because of the curse[b](Z) the land lies parched
and the pastures(AA) in the wilderness are withered.(AB)
The prophets follow an evil course
and use their power unjustly.
11 “Both prophet and priest are godless;(AC)
even in my temple(AD) I find their wickedness,”
declares the Lord.
12 “Therefore their path will become slippery;(AE)
they will be banished to darkness
and there they will fall.
I will bring disaster on them
in the year they are punished,(AF)”
declares the Lord.
13 “Among the prophets of Samaria
I saw this repulsive thing:
They prophesied by Baal(AG)
and led my people Israel astray.(AH)
14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem
I have seen something horrible:(AI)
They commit adultery and live a lie.(AJ)
They strengthen the hands of evildoers,(AK)
so that not one of them turns from their wickedness.(AL)
They are all like Sodom(AM) to me;
the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”(AN)
15 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says concerning the prophets:
“I will make them eat bitter food
and drink poisoned water,(AO)
because from the prophets of Jerusalem
ungodliness(AP) has spread throughout the land.”
16 This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“Do not listen(AQ) to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions(AR) from their own minds,
not from the mouth(AS) of the Lord.
17 They keep saying(AT) to those who despise me,
‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’(AU)
And to all who follow the stubbornness(AV) of their hearts
they say, ‘No harm(AW) will come to you.’
18 But which of them has stood in the council(AX) of the Lord
to see or to hear his word?
Who has listened and heard his word?
19 See, the storm(AY) of the Lord
will burst out in wrath,
a whirlwind(AZ) swirling down
on the heads of the wicked.
20 The anger(BA) of the Lord will not turn back(BB)
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
you will understand it clearly.
21 I did not send(BC) these prophets,
yet they have run with their message;
I did not speak to them,
yet they have prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my council,(BD)
they would have proclaimed(BE) my words to my people
and would have turned(BF) them from their evil ways
and from their evil deeds.(BG)
23 “Am I only a God nearby,(BH)”
declares the Lord,
“and not a God far away?
24 Who can hide(BI) in secret places
so that I cannot see them?”
declares the Lord.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”(BJ)
declares the Lord.
25 “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies(BK) in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream!(BL) I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions(BM) of their own minds?(BN) 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget(BO) my name, just as their ancestors forgot(BP) my name through Baal worship.(BQ) 28 Let the prophet who has a dream(BR) recount the dream, but let the one who has my word(BS) speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. 29 “Is not my word like fire,”(BT) declares the Lord, “and like a hammer(BU) that breaks a rock in pieces?
30 “Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against(BV) the prophets(BW) who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’(BX) 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,(BY)” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray(BZ) with their reckless lies,(CA) yet I did not send(CB) or appoint them. They do not benefit(CC) these people in the least,” declares the Lord.
False Prophecy
33 “When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the message(CD) from the Lord?’ say to them, ‘What message? I will forsake(CE) you, declares the Lord.’ 34 If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is a message(CF) from the Lord,’ I will punish(CG) them and their household. 35 This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’(CH) or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36 But you must not mention ‘a message from the Lord’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort(CI) the words of the living God,(CJ) the Lord Almighty, our God. 37 This is what you keep saying to a prophet: ‘What is the Lord’s answer to you?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 38 Although you claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ this is what the Lord says: You used the words, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ even though I told you that you must not claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord.’ 39 Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast(CK) you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors. 40 I will bring on you everlasting disgrace(CL)—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 23:5 Or up from David’s line
- Jeremiah 23:10 Or because of these things
Jeremiah 23
EasyEnglish Bible
Jeremiah 23
EasyEnglish Bible
A righteous King
23 The Lord says, ‘Terrible trouble will come to the rulers of my people. They should have taken care of my people, as shepherds take care of their sheep. Instead, they have caused them to run away.’ 2 So the Lord, Israel's God, says to the leaders who rule over his people, ‘You have not taken care of my people. You have chased them away to other places. So now I will come and punish you, because of the evil things that you have done. I, the Lord, tell you that!
3 I myself will bring back together all my people who are still alive. I will fetch them from the countries where I have sent them. I will bring them back to the land that is their home. They will give birth to many children and they will grow in number. 4 I will choose rulers for them who will truly take care of them. My people will no longer be afraid. They will all be safe.’ That is what the Lord says.
5 The Lord says, ‘The time will come when I do this:
I will cause a descendant of David to be born.
He will be righteous.
He will grow like a branch on the tree of David's family.
He will rule as king in a wise way.
He will do what is right and fair in the land.
6 While he rules, the people of Judah will be safe.
And Israel's people will live in peace.
People will give this name to him:
“The Lord is our righteous Saviour.” ’
7 The Lord says, ‘Yes, a new time will come. When people make a promise, they will not say, “I promise to do this as surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites safely out of Egypt.” 8 Instead they will say, “I promise to do this as surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel safely back from the land in the north. He brought them back from all the places where he had sent them as prisoners.” At that time they will live in their own land.’
A message about the false prophets
9 I am very upset about what the prophets are doing.
My body is shaking.
I move like a man who has become drunk,
someone who has drunk too much wine.
I am afraid because of the Lord
and the holy message that he has spoken.
10 The land is full of people who are not faithful to God.
The prophets live wicked lives.
They use their power in a bad way.
Because of that, God has cursed the land.
The land is as dry as a desert,
and the fields have no grass.
11 The Lord says,
‘The prophets and the priests are all wicked.
I see the evil things that they do,
even in my temple.
12 Because of that, the paths that they travel on will be dark.
They will easily slip and fall to the ground.
I will cause terrible trouble to happen to them.
I will decide the time when I will punish them.’
That is what the Lord says.
13 ‘I saw the disgusting thing that the prophets in Samaria did.[a]
They used the name of Baal to prophesy.
Their messages deceived my people, Israel.
14 But now some prophets in Jerusalem do even worse things!
They are not faithful to their wives.[b]
They always deceive people.
They encourage people to do evil things.
They do not try to stop them.
They are as bad as the people of Sodom long ago.
The people of Jerusalem are as bad as the people of Gomorrah.[c]
15 So I, the Lord Almighty,
say this about these prophets:
I will cause them to have much pain and trouble.
They will eat bitter food.
They will drink water that is poison.
It is because of Jerusalem's prophets
that people do wicked things everywhere in the land.’
16 The Lord Almighty says to the people,
‘Do not listen to the messages that the prophets are telling you.
They are only deceiving you.
They speak about visions that are their own ideas.
They do not speak a message that comes from the Lord himself.
17 When people refuse to listen to me,
the prophets still encourage them.
They say to them,
“The Lord will give you peace.”
When people refuse to change their wicked way of life,
the prophets tell them,
“Nothing bad will happen to you.”
18 But none of those prophets has met with the Lord.
They have not seen him
and they have not heard his voice.
So none of them has ever listened to him
to know what he is saying.
19 But look! The Lord's anger will come
like a strong storm.
It will blow away the heads of those wicked people.
20 The Lord will not stop being angry,
until he has finished what he has decided to do.
When the time comes,
you will understand this clearly.
21 I did not send those prophets.
But they have still run to speak to you.
I did not tell them what to say,
but they have continued to prophesy.
22 If they had really met with me,
they would have spoken my message to my people.
They would have caused my people to turn away from their wicked way of life.
They would have stopped my people doing evil things.’
23 The Lord says, ‘Am I a God in only one place?
No! I see everything everywhere!
24 Do you think you can hide
in a place where I cannot see you?
You should know that I am everywhere,
in the heavens above and on the earth.’
That is what the Lord says.
25 ‘I have heard the lies that these prophets are saying. They say that they have messages from me. They say, “God has spoken to me in a dream!” 26 But all their words are lies. Their messages are their own ideas. When will they stop deceiving people? 27 They want to make my people forget who I am. They use their dreams to do this. They tell them to each other. They are as bad as their ancestors. They also forgot who I am when they worshipped the false god, Baal.
28 If a prophet has a dream, he should say what it is. If a prophet receives a message from me, he should speak that message faithfully. But dreams are very different from my messages. Straw is not the same as wheat! 29 A message from me is like a fire that burns things. It is like a hammer that breaks a rock into pieces.’ That is what the Lord says.
30 ‘I tell you that I am against those prophets! They say that they speak messages from me. But they are using each other's ideas. 31 They say, “This message is from the Lord,” but it is their own words that they speak. 32 Yes, I am against those who have dreams and use them to deceive people. They are using cruel lies to lead the people away from me. I did not send those prophets to speak on my behalf. They do nothing to help my people.’ That is what the Lord says.
33 The Lord said, ‘Jeremiah, someone may ask you a question. He may be one of these people or a prophet or a priest. He may ask you, “What message of trouble is the Lord telling us now?” Then you must say to him, “You are the trouble! The Lord says that he will go away from you.” 34 If a prophet, a priest, or anyone else says, “I have a message of trouble from the Lord,” I will punish that person. I will punish his whole family too.
35 Instead, each of you should ask your friends, “What is the Lord's answer?” or “What has the Lord said?” 36 But you must not speak any more about “a message of trouble from the Lord”. It is the person's own message that brings the trouble. In that way, you change the true message of our God, the living God who is the Lord Almighty. 37 You should ask the prophet, “What answer did the Lord give to you?” or “What did the Lord say?” 38 You must no longer say, “What is the message of trouble from the Lord?” If you continue to say that when I have told you not to say it, this is what will happen: 39 I will pick you up and I will throw you away! I will send you all a long way away from me. I will chase out all the people of this city that I gave to you and to your ancestors. 40 I will make you very ashamed. People will never forget your great shame.’
Footnotes
- 23:13 Samaria was the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel.
- 23:14 ‘faithful to their wives’ or ‘faithful to God’.
- 23:14 There were not even 10 good men in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. So the Lord had destroyed those cities. See Genesis 18:20-33; 19:5-9.
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