23 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.

Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.

And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.

And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness.

10 For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.

11 For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord.

12 Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the Lord.

13 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.

14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

15 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.

16 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.

17 They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?

19 Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

20 The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.

21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

22 But 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.

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

24 Can 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.

25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;

27 Which 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.

28 The 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.

29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.

31 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.

32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.

33 And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord.

34 And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the Lord, I will even punish that man and his house.

35 Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the Lord answered? and, What hath the Lord spoken?

36 And the burden of the Lord shall ye mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts our God.

37 Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the Lord answered thee? and, What hath the Lord spoken?

38 But since ye say, The burden of the Lord; therefore thus saith the Lord; Because ye say this word, The burden of the Lord, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the Lord;

39 Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:

40 And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.

The Branch of Righteousness

23 “Woe (A)to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. (B)Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the Lord. “But (C)I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. I will set up (D)shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the Lord.

“Behold, (E)the days are coming,” says the Lord,
“That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;
A King shall reign and [a]prosper,
(F)And execute [b]judgment and righteousness in the [c]earth.
(G)In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel (H)will dwell safely;
Now (I)this is His name by which He will be called:

[d]THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

“Therefore, behold, (J)the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ but, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country (K)and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own (L)land.”

False Prophets and Empty Oracles

My heart within me is broken
Because of the prophets;
(M)All my bones shake.
I am like a drunken man,
And like a man whom wine has overcome,
Because of the Lord,
And because of His holy words.
10 For (N)the land is full of adulterers;
For (O)because of a curse the land mourns.
(P)The pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up.
Their course of life is evil,
And their might is not right.

11 “For (Q)both prophet and priest are profane;
Yes, (R)in My house I have found their wickedness,” says the Lord.
12 “Therefore(S) their way shall be to them
Like slippery ways;
In the darkness they shall be driven on
And fall in them;
For I (T)will bring disaster on them,
The year of their punishment,” says the Lord.
13 “And I have seen [e]folly in the prophets of Samaria:
(U)They prophesied by Baal
And (V)caused My people Israel to err.
14 Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem:
(W)They commit adultery and walk in lies;
They also (X)strengthen the hands of evildoers,
So that no one turns back from his wickedness.
All of them are like (Y)Sodom to Me,
And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

15 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets:

‘Behold, I will feed them with (Z)wormwood,
And make them drink the water of gall;
For from the prophets of Jerusalem
[f]Profaneness has gone out into all the land.’ ”

16 Thus says the Lord of hosts:

“Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you.
They make you worthless;
(AA)They speak a vision of their own heart,
Not from the mouth of the Lord.
17 They continually say to those who despise Me,
‘The Lord has said, (AB)“You shall have peace” ’;
And to everyone who (AC)walks according to the [g]dictates of his own heart, they say,
(AD)‘No evil shall come upon you.’ ”

18 For (AE)who has stood in the counsel of the Lord,
And has perceived and heard His word?
Who has marked His word and heard it?
19 Behold, a (AF)whirlwind of the Lord has gone forth in fury—
A violent whirlwind!
It will fall violently on the head of the wicked.
20 The (AG)anger of the Lord will not turn back
Until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart.
(AH)In the latter days you will understand it perfectly.

21 “I(AI) have not sent these prophets, yet they ran.
I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in My counsel,
And had caused My people to hear My words,
Then they would have (AJ)turned them from their evil way
And from the evil of their doings.

23 Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord,
“And not a God afar off?
24 Can anyone (AK)hide himself in secret places,
So I shall not see him?” says the Lord;
(AL)“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!’ 26 How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, 27 who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, (AM)as their fathers forgot My name for Baal.

28 “The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream;
And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully.
What is the chaff to the wheat?” says the Lord.
29 Is not My word like a (AN)fire?” says the Lord,
“And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

30 “Therefore behold, (AO)I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who steal My words every one from his neighbor. 31 Behold, I am (AP)against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’ 32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” says the Lord, “and tell them, and cause My people to err by their (AQ)lies and by (AR)their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not (AS)profit this people at all,” says the Lord.

33 “So when these people or the prophet or the priest ask you, saying, ‘What is (AT)the [h]oracle of the Lord?’ you shall then say to them, [i]‘What oracle?’ I will even forsake you,” says the Lord. 34 “And as for the prophet and the priest and the people who say, ‘The [j]oracle of the Lord!’ I will even punish that man and his house. 35 Thus every one of you shall say to his neighbor, and every one to his brother, ‘What has the Lord answered?’ and, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36 And the [k]oracle of the Lord you shall mention no more. For every man’s word will be his oracle, for you have (AU)perverted the words of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God. 37 Thus you shall say to the prophet, ‘What has the Lord answered you?’ and, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 38 But since you say, ‘The [l]oracle of the Lord!’ therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Because you say this word, “The oracle of the Lord!” and I have sent to you, saying, “Do not say, ‘The oracle of the Lord!’ ” 39 therefore behold, I, even I, (AV)will utterly forget you and forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and will cast you out of My presence. 40 And I will bring (AW)an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual (AX)shame, which shall not be forgotten.’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 23:5 act wisely
  2. Jeremiah 23:5 justice
  3. Jeremiah 23:5 land
  4. Jeremiah 23:6 Heb. YHWH Tsidkenu
  5. Jeremiah 23:13 Lit. distastefulness
  6. Jeremiah 23:15 Or Pollution
  7. Jeremiah 23:17 stubbornness or imagination
  8. Jeremiah 23:33 burden, prophecy
  9. Jeremiah 23:33 LXX, Tg., Vg. ‘You are the burden.’
  10. Jeremiah 23:34 burden, prophecy
  11. Jeremiah 23:36 burden, prophecy
  12. Jeremiah 23:38 burden, prophecy

The Righteous Branch

23 “Woe to the shepherds(A) who are destroying and scattering(B) the sheep of my pasture!”(C) declares the Lord. 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. “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. 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.

“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.
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)

“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) 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

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

  1. Jeremiah 23:5 Or up from David’s line
  2. Jeremiah 23:10 Or because of these things

预言四散之群必复集旋返

23 耶和华说:“那些残害、赶散我草场之羊的牧人有祸了!” 耶和华以色列的神斥责那些牧养他百姓的牧人,如此说:“你们赶散我的羊群,并没有看顾他们,我必讨你们这行恶的罪。”这是耶和华说的。 “我要将我羊群中所余剩的,从我赶他们到的各国内招聚出来,领他们归回本圈,他们也必生养众多。 我必设立照管他们的牧人牧养他们,他们不再惧怕,不再惊惶,也不缺少一个。”这是耶和华说的。

大卫后裔中必兴起义者为王

耶和华说:“日子将到,我要给大卫兴起一个公义的苗裔。他必掌王权,行事有智慧,在地上施行公平和公义。 在他的日子,犹大必得救,以色列也安然居住,他的名必称为‘耶和华我们的义’。” 耶和华说:“日子将到,人必不再指着那领以色列人从埃及地上来永生的耶和华起誓, 却要指着那领以色列家的后裔从北方和赶他们到的各国中上来永生的耶和华起誓。他们必住在本地。”

论伪先知之恶及所受之报

论到那些先知,我心在我里面忧伤,我骨头都发颤。因耶和华和他的圣言,我像醉酒的人,像被酒所胜的人。 10 地满了行淫的人。因妄自赌咒,地就悲哀,旷野的草场都枯干了。他们所行的道乃是恶的,他们的勇力使得不正。 11 “连先知带祭司都是亵渎的,就是在我殿中我也看见他们的恶。”这是耶和华说的。 12 “因此,他们的道路必像黑暗中的滑地,他们必被追赶在这路中仆倒。因为当追讨之年,我必使灾祸临到他们。”这是耶和华说的。

13 “我在撒马利亚的先知中曾见愚妄,他们借巴力说预言,使我的百姓以色列走错了路。 14 我在耶路撒冷的先知中曾见可憎恶的事,他们行奸淫,做事虚妄,又坚固恶人的手,甚至无人回头离开他的恶。他们在我面前都像所多玛耶路撒冷的居民都像蛾摩拉。” 15 所以万军之耶和华论到先知如此说:“我必将茵陈给他们吃,又将苦胆水给他们喝,因为亵渎的事出于耶路撒冷的先知,流行遍地。”

16 万军之耶和华如此说:“这些先知向你们说预言,你们不要听他们的话。他们以虚空教训你们,所说的异象是出于自己的心,不是出于耶和华的口。 17 他们常对藐视我的人说:‘耶和华说,你们必享平安。’又对一切按自己顽梗之心而行的人说:‘必没有灾祸临到你们。’” 18 有谁站在耶和华的会中得以听见并会悟他的话呢?有谁留心听他的话呢? 19 看哪,耶和华的愤怒好像暴风,已经发出,是暴烈的旋风,必转到恶人的头上。 20 耶和华的怒气必不转消,直到他心中所拟定的成就了,末后的日子你们要全然明白。 21 “我没有打发那些先知,他们竟自奔跑;我没有对他们说话,他们竟自预言。 22 他们若是站在我的会中,就必使我的百姓听我的话,又使他们回头离开恶道和他们所行的恶。”

23 耶和华说:“我岂为近处的神呢?不也为远处的神吗?” 24 耶和华说:“人岂能在隐密处藏身,使我看不见他呢?”耶和华说:“我岂不充满天地吗? 25 我已听见那些先知所说的,就是托我名说的假预言,他们说:‘我做了梦!我做了梦!’ 26 说假预言的先知,就是预言本心诡诈的先知,他们这样存心要到几时呢? 27 他们各人将所做的梦对邻舍述说,想要使我的百姓忘记我的名,正如他们列祖因巴力忘记我的名一样。 28 得梦的先知可以述说那梦,得我话的人可以诚实讲说我的话!糠秕怎能与麦子比较呢?”这是耶和华说的。 29 耶和华说:“我的话岂不像火,又像能打碎磐石的大锤吗?” 30 耶和华说:“那些先知各从邻舍偷窃我的言语,因此我必与他们反对。” 31 耶和华说:“那些先知用舌头说‘是耶和华说的’,我必与他们反对。” 32 耶和华说:“那些以幻梦为预言,又述说这梦,以谎言和矜夸使我百姓走错了路的,我必与他们反对。我没有打发他们,也没有吩咐他们,他们与这百姓毫无益处。”这是耶和华说的。

讥真先知者必受罚

33 “无论是百姓,是先知,是祭司,问你说:‘耶和华有什么默示呢?’你就对他们说:‘什么默示啊?耶和华说:我要撇弃你们!’ 34 无论是先知,是祭司,是百姓,说‘耶和华的默示’,我必刑罚那人和他的家。 35 你们各人要对邻舍,各人要对弟兄如此说:‘耶和华回答什么?耶和华说了什么呢?’ 36 ‘耶和华的默示’你们不可再提,各人所说的话必做自己的重担[a],因为你们谬用永生神万军之耶和华我们神的言语。 37 你们要对先知如此说:‘耶和华回答你什么?耶和华说了什么呢?’ 38 你们若说‘耶和华的默示’,耶和华就如此说:因你们说‘耶和华的默示’这句话,我也打发人到你们那里去,告诉你们不可说‘耶和华的默示’, 39 所以我必全然忘记你们,将你们和我所赐给你们并你们列祖的城撇弃了。 40 又必使永远的凌辱和长久的羞耻临到你们,是不能忘记的。”

Footnotes

  1. 耶利米书 23:36 “重担”和“默示”原文同。