²⁰ But if a prophet ·says something I did not tell him to say as though he were speaking for me [^Lspeaks presumptuously in my name a word I did not command him to speak], or if a prophet speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must be killed [Jer. 28:15–17].”

²¹ You might be ·thinking [^Lsaying in your heart/mind], “How can we know if a message is not from the Lord?” ²² If what a prophet says in the name of the Lord does not happen, it is not the Lord’s message. That prophet was speaking ·his own ideas [presumptuously]. Don’t be afraid of him.