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13 The prophets will prove to be full of wind.[a]
The Lord has not spoken through them.[b]
So, let what they say happen to them.’”

14 Because of that,[c] the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies[d] said to me:[e]

“Because these people have spoken[f] like this,[g]
I will make the words that I put in your mouth like fire.
And I will make this people like wood,
which the fiery judgments you speak will burn up.”[h]
15 The Lord says,[i] “Listen,[j] nation of Israel![k]
I am about to bring a nation from far away to attack you.
It will be a nation that was founded long ago
and has lasted for a long time.
It will be a nation whose language you will not know.
Its people will speak words that you will not be able to understand.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 5:13 tn Heb “will be wind.”sn There is a wordplay on the Hebrew word translated “wind” (רוּחַ, ruakh) which also means “spirit.” The prophets spoke by inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord (cf., e.g., 2 Chr 20:14); hence the prophet was sometimes called “the man of the spirit” (cf. Hos 9:7). The people were claiming that the prophets were speaking lies and hence were full of wind, not the Spirit.
  2. Jeremiah 5:13 tc Heb “the word is not in them.” The MT has a highly unusual form here, the Piel perfect with the definite article (הַדִּבֵּר, haddibber). It is undoubtedly best to read with the LXX (Greek version) and one Hebrew ms the article on the noun (הַדָּבָר, haddavar).
  3. Jeremiah 5:14 tn Heb “Therefore.”
  4. Jeremiah 5:14 tn Heb “The Lord God of Armies.” See the translator’s note at 2:19.sn Here the emphasis appears to be on the fact that the Lord is in charge of the enemy armies whom he will use to punish Israel for their denial of his prior warnings through the prophets.
  5. Jeremiah 5:14 tn The words, “to me” are not in the text but are implicit in the connection. They are supplied in the translation for clarification.
  6. Jeremiah 5:14 tn Heb “you have spoken.” The text here דַּבֶּרְכֶם (dabberekhem, “you have spoken”) is either a case of a scribal error for דַּבֶּרָם (dabberam, “their speaking”; preceding יַעַן [ya‘an] would function as a preposition meaning “because of”) or an example of the rapid shift in addressee which is common in Jeremiah.
  7. Jeremiah 5:14 tn Heb “this word.”
  8. Jeremiah 5:14 tn Heb “like wood and it [i.e., the fire I put in your mouth] will consume them.”
  9. Jeremiah 5:15 tn Heb “oracle of the Lord.”
  10. Jeremiah 5:15 tn Heb “Behold!”
  11. Jeremiah 5:15 tn Heb “house of Israel.”

13 The prophets(A) are but wind(B)
    and the word is not in them;
    so let what they say be done to them.”

14 Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says:

“Because the people have spoken these words,
    I will make my words in your mouth(C) a fire(D)
    and these people the wood it consumes.(E)
15 People of Israel,” declares the Lord,
    “I am bringing a distant nation(F) against you—
an ancient and enduring nation,
    a people whose language(G) you do not know,
    whose speech you do not understand.

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