Jeremiah 23:21-31

King James Version

²¹I 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 should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

²³Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?

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.

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Jeremiah 23:21-31

Living Bible

²¹I have not sent these prophets, yet they claim to speak for me; I gave them no message, yet they say their words are mine. ²²If they were mine, they would try to turn my people from their evil ways. ²³Am I a God who is only in one place and cannot see what they are doing? ²⁴Can anyone hide from me? Am I not everywhere in all of heaven and earth?

²⁵“Listen to the dream I had from God last night,” they say. And then they proceed to lie in my name. ²⁶How long will this continue? 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 in the same way as their fathers did, who turned away to the idols of Baal. ²⁸Let these false prophets tell their dreams and let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word. There is a difference between chaff and wheat! ²⁹Does not my word burn like fire? asks the Lord. Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashed the rock to pieces? ^30-31So I stand against these “prophets” who get their messages from each other—these smooth-tongued “prophets” who say, “This message is from God!”

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Jeremiah 23:21-31

Amplified Bible

²¹
“I did not send [these counterfeit] 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 caused My people to hear My words,
Then they would have turned My people from their evil way
And from the evil of their decisions and deeds.

²³
“Am I a God who is at hand,” says the Lord,
“And not a God far away?”
²⁴
“Can anyone hide himself in secret places
So that I cannot 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 [visions when on my bed at night].’ ²⁶How long [shall this state of affairs continue]? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the deception of their own heart, ²⁷who think that they can make My people forget My Name by their [contrived] dreams which each one tells another, just as their fathers forgot My Name because of Baal? ²⁸The prophet who has a dream may tell his dream; but he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat [for nourishment]?” says the Lord. ²⁹“Is not My word like fire [that consumes all that cannot endure the test]?” says the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks the [most stubborn] rock [in pieces]? ³⁰Therefore behold (hear this), I am against the [counterfeit] prophets,” says the Lord, “[I am descending on them with punishment, these prophets] who steal My words from one another [imitating the words of the true prophets]. ³¹Hear this, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who use their [own deceitful] tongues and say, ‘Thus says the Lord.’

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Jeremiah 23:21-31

New International Version

²¹I did not send^(A) 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,^(B)
    they would have proclaimed^(C) my words to my people
and would have turned^(D) them from their evil ways
    and from their evil deeds.^(E)

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

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

³⁰“Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against^(T) the prophets^(U) 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.’^(V)