Jeremiah 23
English Standard Version
The Righteous Branch
23 (A)“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning (B)the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. (C)Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. 3 (D)Then I will gather the remnant of my flock (E)out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, (F)and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 (G)I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord.
5 (H)“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous (I)Branch, and (J)he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and (K)Israel will (L)dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: (M)‘The Lord is our righteousness.’
7 (N)“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ 8 but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he[a] had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.”
Lying Prophets
9 Concerning the prophets:
(O)My heart is broken within me;
(P)all my bones shake;
I am like a drunken man,
like a man overcome by wine,
because of the Lord
and because of his holy words.
10 (Q)For the land is full of adulterers;
(R)because of the curse (S)the land mourns,
and (T)the pastures of the wilderness are dried up.
(U)Their course is evil,
and their might is not right.
11 (V)“Both prophet and priest are ungodly;
even (W)in my house I have found their evil,
declares the Lord.
12 (X)Therefore their way shall be to them
like slippery paths (Y)in the darkness,
into which they shall be driven and fall,
for I will bring disaster upon them
(Z)in the year of their punishment,
declares the Lord.
13 In the prophets of (AA)Samaria
(AB)I saw an unsavory thing:
(AC)they prophesied by Baal
(AD)and led my people Israel astray.
14 But in the prophets of Jerusalem
I have seen a horrible thing:
(AE)they commit adultery and walk in lies;
(AF)they strengthen the hands of evildoers,
so that no one turns from his evil;
(AG)all of them have become like Sodom to me,
(AH)and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.”
15 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets:
(AI)“Behold, I will feed them with bitter food
(AJ)and give them (AK)poisoned water to drink,
for from the prophets of Jerusalem
ungodliness 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, (AL)filling you with vain hopes. (AM)They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17 They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, (AN)‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who (AO)stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, (AP)‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”
18 For (AQ)who among them has stood in the council of the Lord
to see and to hear his word,
or who has paid attention to his word and listened?
19 (AR)Behold, the storm of the Lord!
Wrath has gone forth,
(AS)a whirling tempest;
it will burst upon the head of the wicked.
20 (AT)The anger of the Lord will not turn back
until he has executed and (AU)accomplished
the intents of his heart.
(AV)In the latter days you will understand it clearly.
21 (AW)“I did not send the prophets,
yet they ran;
I did not speak to them,
yet they prophesied.
22 (AX)But if they had stood in my council,
then they would have proclaimed my words to my people,
(AY)and they would have turned them from their evil way,
and (AZ)from the evil of their deeds.
23 (BA)“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? 24 (BB)Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. (BC)Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. 25 I have heard what the prophets have said (BD)who prophesy lies in my name, saying, (BE)‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ 26 How long shall there be lies in the heart of (BF)the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, 27 who think to make my people forget my name (BG)by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their (BH)fathers forgot my name for Baal? 28 (BI)Let the prophet who has a dream (BJ)tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. (BK)What has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord. 29 (BL)Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and (BM)like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? 30 (BN)Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who steal my words from one another. 31 Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who use their tongues and declare, ‘declares the Lord.’ 32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the Lord, and who tell them and (BO)lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when (BP)I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord.
33 (BQ)“When one of this people, or a prophet or a priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the Lord?’ you shall say to them, ‘You are the burden,[b] and (BR)I will cast you off, declares the Lord.’ 34 And as for the prophet, priest, or one of the people who says, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ (BS)I will punish that man and his household. 35 Thus shall you say, every one to his neighbor and every one to his brother, ‘What has the Lord answered?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36 But ‘the burden of the Lord’ you shall mention no more, for the burden is every man's own word, and (BT)you pervert the words of (BU)the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God. 37 Thus you shall say to the prophet, ‘What has the Lord answered you?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 38 But if you say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have said these words, “The burden of the Lord,” when I sent to you, saying, “You shall not say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’” 39 therefore, behold, I will surely lift you up[c] and (BV)cast you away from my presence, you and the city that I gave to you and your fathers. 40 (BW)And I will bring upon you everlasting reproach and (BX)perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.’”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 23:8 Septuagint; Hebrew I
- Jeremiah 23:33 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew What burden?
- Jeremiah 23:39 Or surely forget you
Jeremiah 23
New American Standard Bible
The Coming Messiah: the Righteous Branch
23 “(A)Woe to the shepherds who are causing the (B)sheep of My pasture to (C)perish and are scattering them!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says concerning the shepherds who are [a]tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not been concerned about them; behold, I am going to (D)call you to account for the (E)evil of your deeds,” declares the Lord. 3 “Then I Myself will (F)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. 4 I will also raise up (G)shepherds over them and they will [b]tend them; and they will (H)not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, (I)nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord.
5 “Behold, the (J)days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“When I will raise up for David a righteous [c](K)Branch;
And He will (L)reign as king and [d]act wisely
And (M)do justice and righteousness in the land.
6 In His days Judah will be saved,
And (N)Israel will live securely;
And this is His (O)name by which He will be called,
‘The (P)Lord Our Righteousness.’
7 “(Q)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,’ 8 (R)but, ‘As the Lord lives, who (S)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
9 As for the prophets:
My (T)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 (U)adulterers;
For the land (V)mourns because of the curse.
The (W)pastures of the wilderness have dried up.
Their course is evil
And their might is not right.
11 “For (X)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 (Y)slippery paths to them,
They will be driven away into the (Z)gloom and fall down in it;
For I will bring (AA)disaster upon them,
The year of their punishment,” declares the Lord.
13 “Moreover, among the prophets of Samaria I saw an (AB)offensive thing:
They (AC)prophesied by Baal and (AD)led My people Israel astray.
14 Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a (AE)horrible thing:
The committing of (AF)adultery and walking in deceit;
And they strengthen the hands of (AG)evildoers,
So that no one has turned back from his wickedness.
All of them have become to Me like (AH)Sodom,
And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.
15 Therefore this is what the Lord of armies says concerning the prophets:
‘Behold, I am going to (AI)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:
“(AJ)Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you.
They are (AK)leading you into futility;
They tell a (AL)vision of their own [e]imagination,
Not (AM)from the mouth of the Lord.
17 They keep saying to those who (AN)despise Me,
‘The Lord has said, “(AO)You will have peace”’;
And as for everyone who walks in the (AP)stubbornness of his own heart,
They say, ‘(AQ)Disaster will not come on you.’
18 But (AR)who has stood in the council of the Lord,
That he should see and hear His word?
Who has paid (AS)attention to [f]His word and listened?
19 Behold, the (AT)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 (AU)anger of the Lord will not turn back
Until He has (AV)performed and carried out the purposes of His heart;
(AW)In the last days you will clearly understand it.
21 (AX)I did not send these prophets,
But they ran.
I did not speak to them,
But they prophesied.
22 But if they had (AY)stood in My council,
Then they would have (AZ)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 (BA)near,” declares the Lord,
“And not a God far off?
24 Can a person (BB)hide himself in hiding places
So that I do not see him?” declares the Lord.
“(BC)Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.
25 “I have (BD)heard what the prophets have said who (BE)prophesy falsely in My name, saying, ‘I had a (BF)dream, I had a dream!’ 26 How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, these prophets of the (BG)deceitfulness of their own heart, 27 who intend to (BH)make My people forget My name by their dreams which they report to one another, just as their fathers (BI)forgot My name because of Baal? 28 The prophet who has a dream may report his dream, but let him who has (BJ)My word speak My word truthfully. (BK)What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord. 29 “Is My word not like (BL)fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a (BM)hammer which shatters a rock? 30 Therefore behold, (BN)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 [g]use their tongues and declare, ‘The Lord declares!’ 32 Behold, I am against those who have prophesied (BO)false dreams,” declares the Lord, “and reported them and led My people astray by their lies and (BP)reckless boasting; yet (BQ)I did not send them nor command them, nor do they (BR)provide this people the slightest benefit,” declares the Lord.
33 “Now when this people or the prophet or a priest asks you, saying, ‘What is the [h](BS)pronouncement of the Lord?’ then you shall say to them, ‘What [i]pronouncement?’ The Lord declares, ‘I will (BT)abandon you.’ 34 Then as for the prophet or the priest or the people who say, ‘The (BU)pronouncement of the Lord,’ I will bring punishment upon that person and his household. 35 This is what each one of you will say to his neighbor and to his brother: ‘(BV)What has the Lord answered?’ or, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36 For you will no longer remember the pronouncement of the Lord, because every person’s own word will become the pronouncement, and you have (BW)perverted the words of the (BX)living God, the Lord of armies, our God. 37 This is what you will say to that prophet: ‘What has the Lord answered you?’ and, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 38 And if you say, ‘The pronouncement of the Lord!’ for that reason the Lord says this: ‘Because you said this word, “The pronouncement of the Lord!” I have also sent word to you, saying, “You shall not say, ‘The pronouncement of the Lord!’”’ 39 Therefore behold, (BY)I will certainly forget you and thrust you away from My presence, along with the city which I gave you and your fathers. 40 I will put an everlasting (BZ)disgrace on you and an everlasting humiliation which will not be forgotten.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 23:2 Lit shepherding
- Jeremiah 23:4 Or shepherd
- Jeremiah 23:5 Lit Sprout
- Jeremiah 23:5 Or succeed
- Jeremiah 23:16 Lit heart
- Jeremiah 23:18 Another reading is My
- Jeremiah 23:31 Lit take
- Jeremiah 23:33 Or burden, and so throughout the ch
- Jeremiah 23:33 Or burden, and so throughout the ch
Jeremías 23
Dios Habla Hoy
Esperanzas para el futuro
23 El Señor afirma: «¡Ay de los pastores que dejan que mis ovejas se pierdan y dispersen!»
2 El Señor, el Dios de Israel, dice a los pastores que gobiernan a su pueblo: «Ustedes han dispersado mis ovejas, las han hecho huir y no las han cuidado. Pues bien, yo tendré buen cuidado de castigar sus malas acciones. Yo, el Señor, lo afirmo. 3 Y yo mismo traeré el resto de mis ovejas de los países adonde las hice huir, las reuniré y las haré volver a sus pastos, para que tengan muchas crías. 4 Les pondré pastores que las cuiden, para que no tengan nada que temer ni falte ninguna de ellas. Yo, el Señor, lo afirmo.»
5 El Señor afirma:
«Vendrá un día en que haré
que David tenga un descendiente legítimo,
un rey que reine con sabiduría
y que actúe con justicia y rectitud en el país.
6 Durante su reinado, Judá estará a salvo,
y también Israel vivirá seguro.
Éste es el nombre con que lo llamarán:
“El Señor es nuestra victoria.”»
7 El Señor afirma: «Vendrán días en que ya no jurarán diciendo: “Por la vida del Señor, que sacó a los israelitas de Egipto”, 8 sino que jurarán diciendo: “Por la vida del Señor, que sacó a los descendientes de Israel, del país del norte y de todos los demás países por donde los había dispersado.” Y vivirán en su propia tierra.»
Mensaje acerca de los profetas
9 Mensaje acerca de los profetas:
Estoy profundamente perturbado;
todo el cuerpo me tiembla,
parezco un borracho,
un hombre dominado por el vino,
por causa del Señor
y de sus palabras santas.
10 El país está lleno de adúlteros,
de gente que corre a hacer el mal,
que usa su poder para cometer injusticias.
Por eso el Señor maldijo la tierra,
y la tierra se secó,
y los pastos del desierto se quemaron.
11 El Señor afirma:
«Hasta los profetas y los sacerdotes son impíos;
en mi propio templo los he encontrado haciendo el mal.
12 Por eso su camino
será oscuro y resbaladizo:
yo haré que los empujen y caigan.
Cuando ajuste cuentas con ellos,
traeré sobre ellos la desgracia.
Yo, el Señor, lo afirmo.
13 »Yo he visto a los profetas de Samaria
hacer cosas que me ofenden:
han profetizado en nombre de Baal
y han hecho que mi pueblo Israel se extravíe.
14 Yo he visto a los profetas de Jerusalén
hacer cosas horribles:
cometen adulterios y fraudes,
animan de tal modo a los malvados
que nadie se aparta de su maldad.
Ellos y los habitantes de la ciudad
son para mí como Sodoma y Gomorra.
15 Por eso yo, el Señor todopoderoso,
digo esto contra los profetas:
Voy a darles de comer algo muy amargo;
voy a darles de beber agua envenenada,
porque de los profetas de Jerusalén
se ha extendido la maldad a todo el país.»
16 El Señor todopoderoso dice:
«Israelitas, no hagan caso
a lo que les dicen los profetas.
Lo que dicen no son más que mentiras,
cosas que ellos mismos inventan,
que yo no les he comunicado.
17 A los que desprecian mi palabra
les dicen: “Todo les saldrá bien.”
Y a los que siguen tercamente
las inclinaciones de su corazón,
les dicen: “No les vendrá ningún mal.”»
Exclamación de Jeremías
18 Pero ¿quién asistió al concilio secreto del Señor?,
¿quién ha visto o escuchado su palabra?,
¿quién le ha prestado atención?
19 La ira del Señor es como una tormenta,
como un viento huracanado
que se agita sobre los malvados.
20 La ira del Señor no cesará
hasta que él haya realizado sus propósitos.
Vendrá el tiempo en que ustedes pensarán
y entenderán estas cosas.
Mensaje del Señor contra los falsos profetas
21 «Yo no envié a esos profetas,
y ni siquiera les hablé,
pero ellos salieron corriendo
a hablar en mi nombre.
22 Si hubieran conocido mis secretos,
habrían anunciado mi palabra a mi pueblo;
lo habrían hecho apartarse de su mal camino
y dejar sus malas acciones.»
23 El Señor afirma:
«Lejos o cerca, yo soy Dios.
24 ¿Quién podrá esconderse de mi vista?
Con mi presencia lleno el cielo y la tierra.
Yo, el Señor, lo afirmo.
25 »He oído las mentiras de esos profetas que pretenden hablar en mi nombre y comunicarse en sueños conmigo. 26 ¿Hasta cuándo esos profetas van a seguir anunciando cosas falsas, inventos de su propia fantasía? 27 Con los sueños que se cuentan unos a otros, pretenden hacer que mi pueblo se olvide de mí, como también sus antepasados me olvidaron y se fueron tras Baal. 28-29 ¡Si un profeta tiene un sueño, que diga que es un sueño, pero si recibe mi palabra, que la anuncie fielmente! No se puede comparar la paja con el trigo. Mi palabra es como el fuego, como un martillo que hace pedazos la roca. Yo, el Señor, lo afirmo.
30 »Por eso me declaro contra esos profetas que se roban unos a otros mis palabras. Yo, el Señor, lo afirmo. 31 Me declaro contra esos profetas que hacen pasar como mensaje mío cosas que ellos inventan. 32 Me declaro contra esos profetas que cuentan sueños mentirosos; que con sus mentiras y habladurías hacen que mi pueblo se extravíe. Yo no los he enviado ni les he dado orden alguna, así que son incapaces de ayudar al pueblo. Yo, el Señor, lo afirmo.
Cómo hablar de los mensajes del Señor
33 »Jeremías, si alguna persona del pueblo o un profeta o un sacerdote te pregunta: “¿Cuál es el encargo del Señor?” diles: “El Señor afirma que su carga son ustedes, y que la va a dejar caer.” 34 Y si un profeta o un sacerdote o una persona del pueblo usa la frase “encargo del Señor”, yo le castigaré, a él y a su familia. 35 Cuando alguien le pregunte a un amigo o familiar suyo, podrá decir: “¿Qué respuesta ha dado el Señor? ¿Qué ha dicho?” 36 Pero no vuelvan a usar la frase “encargo del Señor”, porque si alguien la usa, haré que sus palabras se le vuelvan una carga. Ustedes han pervertido el sentido de las palabras del Dios viviente, de su Dios, el Señor todopoderoso.
37 »Jeremías, pregunta a los profetas: “¿Qué respuesta ha dado el Señor? ¿Qué ha dicho?” 38 Y si dicen “encargo del Señor”, respóndeles: “El Señor dice: Puesto que ustedes siguen usando la frase que les prohibí que usaran, 39 yo los levantaré como una carga, a ustedes y a la ciudad que les di a ustedes y a sus antepasados, y los dejaré caer lejos de mí. 40 Y para siempre traeré sobre ustedes humillación y vergüenza tales que no podrán olvidarlas.”»
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