The Burden of the Lord

33 “Now when these people or a prophet or a priest asks you, ‘What is the burden[a] of the Lord?’ you will respond to them, ‘What is the burden? I will throw you away! This is the Lord’s declaration.’ 34 As for the prophet, priest, or people who say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ I will punish that man and his household. 35 This is what each man is to say to his friend and to his brother: ‘What has the Lord answered?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36 But no longer refer to[b] the burden of the Lord, for each man’s word becomes his burden and you pervert the words of the living God, the Lord of Armies, our God. 37 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,’ then this is what the Lord says: Because you have said, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ and I specifically told you not to say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ 39 I will surely forget you.[c] I will throw you away from my presence—both you and the city that I gave you and your ancestors. 40 I will bring on you everlasting disgrace and humiliation(A) that will never be forgotten.”

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Footnotes

  1. 23:33 The Hb word for burden (Ex 23:5; 2Sm 15:33) can also mean “oracle” (Is 13:1; Nah 1:10).
  2. 23:36 Or longer remember
  3. 23:39 Some Hb mss; other Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg read surely lift you up

33 “Now when this people, or a prophet, or a priest, ask you, saying,[a] ‘What is the burden[b] of Yahweh?’ then you shall say to them, ‘You are the burden,[c] and I will forsake you,’” declares[d] Yahweh. 34 “And the prophet, and the priest, and the people who say, ‘The burden[e] of Yahweh,’ I will punish that man and his house. 35 Thus you shall say, each one to his neighbor and each one to his brother: ‘What has Yahweh answered?’ or, ‘What has Yahweh spoken?’ 36 But you shall not mention the burden[f] of Yahweh, for the burden[g] is to each one his word, and so you twist the words of the living God, Yahweh of hosts, our God. 37 Thus you shall say to that prophet, ‘What has Yahweh answered you?’ or, ‘What has Yahweh spoken?’ 38 But if you say, ‘The burden[h] of Yahweh,’ therefore[i] thus says Yahweh, ‘because of your saying these words,[j] “The burden[k] of Yahweh,” then I will send to you, saying,[l] “You shall not say, ‘The burden[m] of Yahweh.’”’ 39 Therefore[n] look, here I am, and I will surely lift you up and forsake you and the city that I gave to you and to your ancestors[o] from my presence[p], 40 and I will bring upon you an everlasting disgrace[q] and an everlasting shame[r] that will not be forgotten.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 23:33 Literally “to say”
  2. Jeremiah 23:33 Or “oracle”
  3. Jeremiah 23:33 Literally “What burden”
  4. Jeremiah 23:33 Literally “a declaration of”
  5. Jeremiah 23:34 Or “oracle”
  6. Jeremiah 23:36 Or “oracle”
  7. Jeremiah 23:36 Or “oracle”
  8. Jeremiah 23:38 Or “oracle”
  9. Jeremiah 23:38 Literally “to thus”
  10. Jeremiah 23:38 Hebrew “word”
  11. Jeremiah 23:38 Or “oracle”
  12. Jeremiah 23:38 Literally “to say”
  13. Jeremiah 23:38 Or “oracle”
  14. Jeremiah 23:39 Literally “To thus”
  15. Jeremiah 23:39 Or “fathers”
  16. Jeremiah 23:39 Literally “my face”
  17. Jeremiah 23:40 Literally “a disgrace of eternity”
  18. Jeremiah 23:40 Literally “a shame of eternity”