14 Then the Lord said to me, “The (A)prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. (B)I have neither sent them nor commanded them, nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a (C)false vision, divination, futility, and the deception of their own [a]minds. 15 Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the prophets who are prophesying in My name, although it was not I who sent them—yet they keep saying: ‘There will be no sword or famine in this land’—(D)by sword and famine those prophets shall meet their end! 16 And the people to whom they are prophesying will be (E)thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and there will be no one to (F)bury them—neither them, nor their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters. For I will (G)pour out their own wickedness upon them.

17 You will say this word to them,
(H)Let my eyes stream down tears night and day,
And let them not cease;
For the virgin (I)daughter of my people has been crushed with a mighty blow,
With a sorely (J)infected wound.
18 If I (K)go out to the country,
There are those killed by the sword!
Or if I enter the city,
There are diseases from famine!
For (L)both prophet and priest
Have wandered around in the land that they do not know.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 14:14 Lit heart

14 Then the Lord said, “These prophets are telling lies in my name. I did not send them or tell them to speak. I did not give them any messages. They prophesy of visions and revelations they have never seen or heard. They speak foolishness made up in their own lying hearts. 15 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I will punish these lying prophets, for they have spoken in my name even though I never sent them. They say that no war or famine will come, but they themselves will die by war and famine! 16 As for the people to whom they prophesy—their bodies will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and war. There will be no one left to bury them. Husbands, wives, sons, and daughters—all will be gone. For I will pour out their own wickedness on them. 17 Now, Jeremiah, say this to them:

“Night and day my eyes overflow with tears.
    I cannot stop weeping,
for my virgin daughter—my precious people—
    has been struck down
    and lies mortally wounded.
18 If I go out into the fields,
    I see the bodies of people slaughtered by the enemy.
If I walk the city streets,
    I see people who have died of starvation.
The prophets and priests continue with their work,
    but they don’t know what they’re doing.”

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