Prophecy against Ammon

49 Concerning the sons of (A)Ammon. This is what the Lord says:

“Does Israel have no sons?
Or has he no heirs?
Why then has [a]Malcam taken possession of Gad,
And his people settled in its cities?
Therefore behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“When I will cause an alarm of (B)war to be heard
Against (C)Rabbah of the sons of Ammon;
And it will become a desolate heap,
And her (D)towns will be set on fire.
Then Israel will take (E)possession of his possessors,”
Says the Lord.
“Wail, (F)Heshbon, for (G)Ai has been destroyed!
Cry out, daughters of Rabbah,
(H)Put on sackcloth and mourn,
And move about inside the walls;
For [b]Malcam will (I)go into exile
Together with his priests and his leaders.
How you (J)boast about the valleys!
Your valley is flowing away,
You (K)backsliding daughter
Who trusts in her (L)treasures, saying,
(M)Who can come against me?’
Behold, I am going to bring (N)terror upon you,”
Declares the Lord [c]God of armies,
“From all directions around you;
And you will be (O)driven away [d]one after another,
With no one to gather the (P)fugitives together.
But afterward I will (Q)restore
The fortunes of the sons of Ammon,”
Declares the Lord.

Prophecy against Edom

Concerning (R)Edom.
This is what the Lord of armies says:
“Is there no longer any (S)wisdom in (T)Teman?
Has good advice been lost by the prudent?
Has their wisdom decayed?
Flee away, turn back, dwell in the depths,
You inhabitants of (U)Dedan,
For I [e]will bring the (V)disaster of Esau upon him
At the time I [f]punish him.
(W)If grape pickers came to you,
Would they not leave gleanings?
If thieves came by night,
They would destroy only what was sufficient for them.
10 But I have (X)stripped Esau bare,
I have uncovered his hiding places
So that he will not be able to conceal himself;
His [g]offspring have been destroyed along with his [h]brothers
And his neighbors, and (Y)he no longer exists.
11 Leave your [i](Z)orphans behind, I will keep them alive;
And let your (AA)widows trust in Me.”

12 For this is what the Lord says: “Behold, those [j]who were not sentenced to drink the (AB)cup will certainly drink it, so are you the one who will be held (AC)completely blameless? You will not be held blameless, but you will certainly drink it. 13 For I have (AD)sworn by Myself,” declares the Lord, “that (AE)Bozrah will become an (AF)object of horror, a disgrace, a wasteland, and a curse; and all its cities will become permanent ruins.”

14 I have (AG)heard a message from the Lord,
And a (AH)messenger is being sent among the nations, saying,
(AI)Gather yourselves together and come against her,
And rise up for battle!”
15 “For behold, I have made you small among the nations,
Despised among people.
16 As for the terror you cause,
The arrogance of your heart has deceived you,
You who live in the clefts of [k]the (AJ)rock,
Who occupy the height of the hill.
Though you make your nest as (AK)high as an eagle’s,
I will (AL)bring you down from there,” declares the Lord.

17 “Edom will become an (AM)object of horror; everyone who passes by it will be appalled and will [l](AN)hiss at all its wounds. 18 Like the (AO)overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah with its neighbors,” says the Lord, “(AP)no one will live there, nor will [m]anyone of mankind reside in it. 19 (AQ)Behold, one will come up like a lion from the (AR)thicket of the Jordan to a perennially watered pasture; for in an instant I will chase him away from it, and I will appoint over it whoever is (AS)chosen. For who is (AT)like Me, and who will summon Me into court? And who then is the shepherd (AU)who can stand against Me?”

20 Therefore hear the (AV)plan of the Lord which He has planned against Edom, and His purposes which He has in mind against the inhabitants of Teman: they will certainly drag them off, even the little ones of the flock; He will certainly make their pasture (AW)desolate because of them. 21 The (AX)earth has quaked at the noise of their downfall. There is an outcry! The noise of it has been heard at the [n]Red Sea. 22 Behold, [o]He will mount up and (AY)swoop like an eagle, and spread out His wings [p]against Bozrah; and the (AZ)hearts of the warriors of Edom on that day will be like the heart of a woman in labor.

Prophecy against Damascus

23 Concerning (BA)Damascus:
(BB)Hamath and (BC)Arpad are put to shame,
For they have heard bad news;
They (BD)despair.
There is anxiety at the sea,
It (BE)cannot be calmed.
24 Damascus has become helpless;
She has turned away to flee,
And panic has gripped her;
(BF)Distress and labor pains have seized her
Like a woman in childbirth.
25 How the (BG)city of praise has not been deserted,
The town of My joy!
26 Therefore, her (BH)young men will fall in her streets,
And all the men of war will perish on that day,” declares the Lord of armies.
27 “I will (BI)set fire to the wall of Damascus,
And it will devour the fortified palace of (BJ)Ben-hadad.”

Prophecy against Kedar and Hazor

28 Concerning (BK)Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated. This is what the Lord says:

“Arise, go up to Kedar
And devastate the [q](BL)people of the east.
29 They will take away their tents and their flocks;
They will carry off for themselves
Their tent (BM)curtains, all their goods and their (BN)camels,
And they will call out to one another, ‘(BO)Horror on every side!’
30 Run away, flee! Dwell in the depths,
You inhabitants of Hazor,” declares the Lord;
“For (BP)Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has formed a plan against you
And devised a scheme against you.
31 Arise, go up against a nation which is (BQ)at ease,
Which lives securely,” declares the Lord.
“It has (BR)no gates or bars;
They (BS)dwell alone.
32 Their camels will become plunder,
And their many livestock for spoils,
And I will (BT)scatter to all the winds those who (BU)cut the corners of their hair;
And I will bring their disaster from every side,” declares the Lord.
33 “Hazor will become a (BV)haunt of jackals,
A desolation forever;
No one will live there,
Nor will [r]anyone of mankind reside in it.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 49:1 In 1 Kin 11:5, 33 and Zeph 1:5, Milcom
  2. Jeremiah 49:3 See note v 1
  3. Jeremiah 49:5 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  4. Jeremiah 49:5 Lit each one before him
  5. Jeremiah 49:8 Or brought
  6. Jeremiah 49:8 Or punished
  7. Jeremiah 49:10 Lit seed
  8. Jeremiah 49:10 Or relatives
  9. Jeremiah 49:11 Or fatherless
  10. Jeremiah 49:12 Lit whose judgment was not to
  11. Jeremiah 49:16 Or Sela
  12. Jeremiah 49:17 Or whistle
  13. Jeremiah 49:18 Lit a son of man
  14. Jeremiah 49:21 Lit Sea of Reeds
  15. Jeremiah 49:22 Or one
  16. Jeremiah 49:22 Or over
  17. Jeremiah 49:28 Lit sons
  18. Jeremiah 49:33 Lit a son of man

A Message About Ammon

49 Concerning the Ammonites:(A)

This is what the Lord says:

“Has Israel no sons?
    Has Israel no heir?
Why then has Molek[a](B) taken possession of Gad?(C)
    Why do his people live in its towns?
But the days are coming,”
    declares the Lord,
“when I will sound the battle cry(D)
    against Rabbah(E) of the Ammonites;
it will become a mound of ruins,(F)
    and its surrounding villages will be set on fire.
Then Israel will drive out
    those who drove her out,(G)
says the Lord.
“Wail, Heshbon,(H) for Ai(I) is destroyed!
    Cry out, you inhabitants of Rabbah!
Put on sackcloth(J) and mourn;
    rush here and there inside the walls,
for Molek(K) will go into exile,(L)
    together with his priests and officials.
Why do you boast of your valleys,
    boast of your valleys so fruitful?
Unfaithful Daughter Ammon,(M)
    you trust in your riches(N) and say,
    ‘Who will attack me?’(O)
I will bring terror on you
    from all those around you,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
“Every one of you will be driven away,
    and no one will gather the fugitives.(P)

“Yet afterward, I will restore(Q) the fortunes of the Ammonites,”
declares the Lord.

A Message About Edom(R)(S)

Concerning Edom:(T)

This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Is there no longer wisdom in Teman?(U)
    Has counsel perished from the prudent?
    Has their wisdom decayed?
Turn and flee, hide in deep caves,(V)
    you who live in Dedan,(W)
for I will bring disaster on Esau
    at the time when I punish him.
If grape pickers came to you,
    would they not leave a few grapes?
If thieves came during the night,
    would they not steal only as much as they wanted?
10 But I will strip Esau bare;
    I will uncover his hiding places,(X)
    so that he cannot conceal himself.
His armed men are destroyed,
    also his allies and neighbors,
    so there is no one(Y) to say,
11 ‘Leave your fatherless children;(Z) I will keep them alive.
    Your widows(AA) too can depend on me.’”

12 This is what the Lord says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup(AB) must drink it, why should you go unpunished?(AC) You will not go unpunished, but must drink it. 13 I swear(AD) by myself,” declares the Lord, “that Bozrah(AE) will become a ruin and a curse,[b] an object of horror(AF) and reproach;(AG) and all its towns will be in ruins forever.”(AH)

14 I have heard a message from the Lord;
    an envoy was sent to the nations to say,
“Assemble yourselves to attack it!
    Rise up for battle!”

15 “Now I will make you small among the nations,
    despised by mankind.
16 The terror you inspire
    and the pride(AI) of your heart have deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rocks,(AJ)
    who occupy the heights of the hill.
Though you build your nest(AK) as high as the eagle’s,
    from there I will bring you down,”
declares the Lord.
17 “Edom will become an object of horror;(AL)
    all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff
    because of all its wounds.(AM)
18 As Sodom(AN) and Gomorrah(AO) were overthrown,
    along with their neighboring towns,”
says the Lord,
“so no one will live there;
    no people will dwell(AP) in it.

19 “Like a lion(AQ) coming up from Jordan’s thickets(AR)
    to a rich pastureland,
I will chase Edom from its land in an instant.
    Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?
Who is like(AS) me and who can challenge me?(AT)
    And what shepherd(AU) can stand against me?”

20 Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Edom,(AV)
    what he has purposed(AW) against those who live in Teman:(AX)
The young of the flock(AY) will be dragged away;
    their pasture will be appalled at their fate.(AZ)
21 At the sound of their fall the earth will tremble;(BA)
    their cry(BB) will resound to the Red Sea.[c]
22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop(BC) down,
    spreading its wings over Bozrah.(BD)
In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors(BE)
    will be like the heart of a woman in labor.(BF)

A Message About Damascus

23 Concerning Damascus:(BG)

“Hamath(BH) and Arpad(BI) are dismayed,
    for they have heard bad news.
They are disheartened,
    troubled like[d] the restless sea.(BJ)
24 Damascus has become feeble,
    she has turned to flee
    and panic has gripped her;
anguish and pain have seized her,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.(BK)
25 Why has the city of renown not been abandoned,
    the town in which I delight?
26 Surely, her young men(BL) will fall in the streets;
    all her soldiers will be silenced(BM) in that day,”
declares the Lord Almighty.
27 “I will set fire(BN) to the walls of Damascus;(BO)
    it will consume(BP) the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.(BQ)

A Message About Kedar and Hazor

28 Concerning Kedar(BR) and the kingdoms of Hazor,(BS) which Nebuchadnezzar(BT) king of Babylon attacked:

This is what the Lord says:

“Arise, and attack Kedar
    and destroy the people of the East.(BU)
29 Their tents and their flocks(BV) will be taken;
    their shelters will be carried off
    with all their goods and camels.
People will shout to them,
    ‘Terror(BW) on every side!’

30 “Flee quickly away!
    Stay in deep caves,(BX) you who live in Hazor,(BY)
declares the Lord.
“Nebuchadnezzar(BZ) king of Babylon has plotted against you;
    he has devised a plan against you.

31 “Arise and attack a nation at ease,
    which lives in confidence,”
declares the Lord,
“a nation that has neither gates nor bars;(CA)
    its people live far from danger.
32 Their camels(CB) will become plunder,
    and their large herds(CC) will be spoils of war.
I will scatter to the winds(CD) those who are in distant places[e](CE)
    and will bring disaster on them from every side,”
declares the Lord.
33 “Hazor(CF) will become a haunt of jackals,(CG)
    a desolate(CH) place forever.
No one will live there;
    no people will dwell(CI) in it.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 49:1 Or their king; also in verse 3
  2. Jeremiah 49:13 That is, its name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that it is cursed.
  3. Jeremiah 49:21 Or the Sea of Reeds
  4. Jeremiah 49:23 Hebrew on or by
  5. Jeremiah 49:32 Or who clip the hair by their foreheads

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

Jehoiachin Reigns

So (A)Jehoiakim [a]lay down with his fathers, and his son Jehoiachin became king in his place. Now (B)the king of Egypt did not come out of his land again, (C)because the king of Babylon had taken everything that belonged to the king of Egypt from (D)the brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 24:6 I.e., died

As for the other events of Jehoiakim’s reign,(A) and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? Jehoiakim rested(B) with his ancestors. And Jehoiachin(C) his son succeeded him as king.

The king of Egypt(D) did not march out from his own country again, because the king of Babylon(E) had taken all his territory, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates River.

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Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up (A)against him and (B)bound him with bronze chains to take him to Babylon. (C)Nebuchadnezzar also brought some of the articles of the house of the Lord to Babylon, and he put them in his temple in Babylon. (D)Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim and [a]the abominations which he committed, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And his son Jehoiachin became king in his place.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 36:8 Lit his

Nebuchadnezzar(A) king of Babylon attacked him and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.(B) Nebuchadnezzar also took to Babylon articles from the temple of the Lord and put them in his temple[a] there.(C)

The other events of Jehoiakim’s reign, the detestable things he did and all that was found against him, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son succeeded him as king.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 36:7 Or palace

(A)Jehoiachin was (B)eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned for three months in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, (C)in accordance with all that his father had done.

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Jehoiachin King of Judah(A)

Jehoiachin(B) was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta(C) daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem. He did evil(D) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father had done.

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(A)Jehoiachin was [a]eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned for three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 36:9 As in LXX and some Heb mss; MT eight years

Jehoiachin King of Judah(A)

Jehoiachin(B) was eighteen[a] years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 36:9 One Hebrew manuscript, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 2 Kings 24:8); most Hebrew manuscripts eight

24 “As I live,” declares the Lord, “even if [a](A)Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were a (B)signet ring on My right hand, yet I would pull [b]you [c]off; 25 and I will (C)hand you over to those who are seeking your life, yes, to those of whom you are frightened, that is, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Chaldeans. 26 I will (D)hurl you and your (E)mother who gave birth to you into another country where you were not born, and there you will die. 27 But as for the land to which they long to return, they will not return to it.

28 Is this man Coniah a despised, shattered jar?
Or is he an (F)undesirable vessel?
Why have he and his descendants been (G)hurled out
And cast into a (H)land that they had not known?
29 (I)O land, land, land,
Hear the word of the Lord!

30 This is what the Lord says:

‘Write this man down as (J)childless,
A man who will (K)not prosper in his days;
For no man among his (L)descendants will prosper
Sitting on the throne of David
Or ruling again in Judah.’”

The Coming Messiah: the Righteous Branch

23 (M)Woe to the shepherds who are causing the (N)sheep of My pasture to (O)perish and are scattering them!” declares the Lord. Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says concerning the shepherds who are [d]tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not been concerned about them; behold, I am going to (P)call you to account for the (Q)evil of your deeds,” declares the Lord. “Then I Myself will (R)gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply. I will also raise up (S)shepherds over them and they will [e]tend them; and they will (T)not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, (U)nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord.

“Behold, the (V)days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“When I will raise up for David a righteous [f](W)Branch;
And He will (X)reign as king and [g]act wisely
And (Y)do justice and righteousness in the land.
In His days Judah will be saved,
And (Z)Israel will live securely;
And this is His (AA)name by which He will be called,
‘The (AB)Lord Our Righteousness.’

(AC)Therefore behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when they will no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives, who brought the sons of Israel up from the land of Egypt,’ (AD)but, ‘As the Lord lives, who (AE)brought up and led the descendants of the household of Israel back from the north land and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ Then they will live on their own soil.”

False Prophets Denounced

As for the prophets:
My (AF)heart is broken within me,
All my bones tremble;
I have become like a drunken man,
And like a man overcome by wine,
Because of the Lord
And because of His holy words.
10 For the land is full of (AG)adulterers;
For the land (AH)mourns because of the curse.
The (AI)pastures of the wilderness have dried up.
Their course is evil
And their might is not right.
11 “For (AJ)both prophet and priest are defiled;
Even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the Lord.
12 “Therefore their way will be like (AK)slippery paths to them,
They will be driven away into the (AL)gloom and fall down in it;
For I will bring (AM)disaster upon them,
The year of their punishment,” declares the Lord.

13 “Moreover, among the prophets of Samaria I saw an (AN)offensive thing:
They (AO)prophesied by Baal and (AP)led My people Israel astray.
14 Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a (AQ)horrible thing:
The committing of (AR)adultery and walking in deceit;
And they strengthen the hands of (AS)evildoers,
So that no one has turned back from his wickedness.
All of them have become to Me like (AT)Sodom,
And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

15 Therefore this is what the Lord of armies says concerning the prophets:

‘Behold, I am going to (AU)feed them wormwood
And make them drink poisonous water,
For from the prophets of Jerusalem
Ungodliness has spread into all the land.’”

16 This is what the Lord of armies says:
(AV)Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you.
They are (AW)leading you into futility;
They tell a (AX)vision of their own [h]imagination,
Not (AY)from the mouth of the Lord.
17 They keep saying to those who (AZ)despise Me,
‘The Lord has said, “(BA)You will have peace”’;
And as for everyone who walks in the (BB)stubbornness of his own heart,
They say, ‘(BC)Disaster will not come on you.’
18 But (BD)who has stood in the council of the Lord,
That he should see and hear His word?
Who has paid (BE)attention to [i]His word and listened?
19 Behold, the (BF)storm of the Lord has gone forth in wrath,
Even a whirling tempest;
It will swirl down on the head of the wicked.
20 The (BG)anger of the Lord will not turn back
Until He has (BH)performed and carried out the purposes of His heart;
(BI)In the last days you will clearly understand it.
21 (BJ)I did not send these prophets,
But they ran.
I did not speak to them,
But they prophesied.
22 But if they had (BK)stood in My council,
Then they would have (BL)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 (BM)near,” declares the Lord,
“And not a God far off?
24 Can a person (BN)hide himself in hiding places
So that I do not see him?” declares the Lord.
(BO)Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.

25 “I have (BP)heard what the prophets have said who (BQ)prophesy falsely in My name, saying, ‘I had a (BR)dream, I had a dream!’ 26 How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, these prophets of the (BS)deceitfulness of their own heart, 27 who intend to (BT)make My people forget My name by their dreams which they report to one another, just as their fathers (BU)forgot My name because of Baal? 28 The prophet who has a dream may report his dream, but let him who has (BV)My word speak My word truthfully. (BW)What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord. 29 “Is My word not like (BX)fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a (BY)hammer which shatters a rock? 30 Therefore behold, (BZ)I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who steal My words from each other. 31 Behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who [j]use their tongues and declare, ‘The Lord declares!’ 32 Behold, I am against those who have prophesied (CA)false dreams,” declares the Lord, “and reported them and led My people astray by their lies and (CB)reckless boasting; yet (CC)I did not send them nor command them, nor do they (CD)provide this people the slightest benefit,” declares the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 22:24 I.e., Jehoiachin
  2. Jeremiah 22:24 I.e., Jehoiachin
  3. Jeremiah 22:24 Lit off from there
  4. Jeremiah 23:2 Lit shepherding
  5. Jeremiah 23:4 Or shepherd
  6. Jeremiah 23:5 Lit Sprout
  7. Jeremiah 23:5 Or succeed
  8. Jeremiah 23:16 Lit heart
  9. Jeremiah 23:18 Another reading is My
  10. Jeremiah 23:31 Lit take

24 “As surely as I live,” declares the Lord, “even if you, Jehoiachin[a](A) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring(B) on my right hand, I would still pull you off. 25 I will deliver(C) you into the hands of those who want to kill you, those you fear—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians.[b] 26 I will hurl(D) you and the mother(E) who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die. 27 You will never come back to the land you long to return(F) to.”

28 Is this man Jehoiachin(G) a despised, broken pot,(H)
    an object no one wants?
Why will he and his children be hurled(I) out,
    cast into a land(J) they do not know?
29 O land,(K) land, land,
    hear the word of the Lord!
30 This is what the Lord says:
“Record this man as if childless,(L)
    a man who will not prosper(M) in his lifetime,
for none of his offspring(N) will prosper,
    none will sit on the throne(O) of David
    or rule anymore in Judah.”

The Righteous Branch

23 “Woe to the shepherds(P) who are destroying and scattering(Q) the sheep of my pasture!”(R) declares the Lord. Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds(S) who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock(T) and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil(U) you have done,” declares the Lord. “I myself will gather the remnant(V) of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture,(W) where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds(X) over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid(Y) or terrified, nor will any be missing,(Z)” declares the Lord.

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when I will raise up for David[c] a righteous Branch,(AA)
a King(AB) who will reign(AC) wisely
    and do what is just and right(AD) in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved
    and Israel will live in safety.(AE)
This is the name(AF) by which he will be called:
    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.(AG)

“So then, the days are coming,”(AH) declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’(AI) 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.”(AJ)

Lying Prophets

Concerning the prophets:

My heart(AK) is broken within me;
    all my bones tremble.(AL)
I am like a drunken man,
    like a strong man overcome by wine,
because of the Lord
    and his holy words.(AM)
10 The land is full of adulterers;(AN)
    because of the curse[d](AO) the land lies parched
    and the pastures(AP) in the wilderness are withered.(AQ)
The prophets follow an evil course
    and use their power unjustly.

11 “Both prophet and priest are godless;(AR)
    even in my temple(AS) I find their wickedness,”
declares the Lord.
12 “Therefore their path will become slippery;(AT)
    they will be banished to darkness
    and there they will fall.
I will bring disaster on them
    in the year they are punished,(AU)
declares the Lord.

13 “Among the prophets of Samaria
    I saw this repulsive thing:
They prophesied by Baal(AV)
    and led my people Israel astray.(AW)
14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem
    I have seen something horrible:(AX)
    They commit adultery and live a lie.(AY)
They strengthen the hands of evildoers,(AZ)
    so that not one of them turns from their wickedness.(BA)
They are all like Sodom(BB) to me;
    the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”(BC)

15 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says concerning the prophets:

“I will make them eat bitter food
    and drink poisoned water,(BD)
because from the prophets of Jerusalem
    ungodliness(BE) has spread throughout the land.”

16 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Do not listen(BF) to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
    they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions(BG) from their own minds,
    not from the mouth(BH) of the Lord.
17 They keep saying(BI) to those who despise me,
    ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’(BJ)
And to all who follow the stubbornness(BK) of their hearts
    they say, ‘No harm(BL) will come to you.’
18 But which of them has stood in the council(BM) of the Lord
    to see or to hear his word?
    Who has listened and heard his word?
19 See, the storm(BN) of the Lord
    will burst out in wrath,
a whirlwind(BO) swirling down
    on the heads of the wicked.
20 The anger(BP) of the Lord will not turn back(BQ)
    until he fully accomplishes
    the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
    you will understand it clearly.
21 I did not send(BR) 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,(BS)
    they would have proclaimed(BT) my words to my people
and would have turned(BU) them from their evil ways
    and from their evil deeds.(BV)

23 “Am I only a God nearby,(BW)
declares the Lord,
    “and not a God far away?
24 Who can hide(BX) in secret places
    so that I cannot see them?”
declares the Lord.
    “Do not I fill heaven and earth?”(BY)
declares the Lord.

25 “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies(BZ) in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream!(CA) I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions(CB) of their own minds?(CC) 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget(CD) my name, just as their ancestors forgot(CE) my name through Baal worship.(CF) 28 Let the prophet who has a dream(CG) recount the dream, but let the one who has my word(CH) speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. 29 “Is not my word like fire,”(CI) declares the Lord, “and like a hammer(CJ) that breaks a rock in pieces?

30 “Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against(CK) the prophets(CL) 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.’(CM) 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,(CN)” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray(CO) with their reckless lies,(CP) yet I did not send(CQ) or appoint them. They do not benefit(CR) these people in the least,” declares the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 22:24 Hebrew Koniah, a variant of Jehoiachin; also in verse 28
  2. Jeremiah 22:25 Or Chaldeans
  3. Jeremiah 23:5 Or up from David’s line
  4. Jeremiah 23:10 Or because of these things