14 Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies(A) in my name. I have not sent(B) them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions,(C) divinations,(D) idolatries[a] and the delusions of their own minds. 15 Therefore this is what the Lord says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish(E) by sword and famine.(F) 16 And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury(G) them, their wives, their sons and their daughters.(H) I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.(I)

17 “Speak this word to them:

“‘Let my eyes overflow with tears(J)
    night and day without ceasing;
for the Virgin(K) Daughter, my people,
    has suffered a grievous wound,
    a crushing blow.(L)
18 If I go into the country,
    I see those slain by the sword;
if I go into the city,
    I see the ravages of famine.(M)
Both prophet and priest
    have gone to a land they know not.(N)’”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 14:14 Or visions, worthless divinations

14 And the Lord said to me, (A)“The prophets prophesy lies in My name. (B)I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, [a]divination, a worthless thing, and the (C)deceit of their heart. 15 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, (D)and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not be in this land’—‘By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed! 16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; (E)they will have no one to bury them—them nor their wives, their sons nor their daughters—for I will pour their wickedness on them.’

17 “Therefore you shall say this word to them:

(F)‘Let my eyes flow with tears night and day,
And let them not cease;
(G)For the virgin daughter of my people
Has been broken with a mighty stroke, with a very severe blow.
18 If I go out to (H)the field,
Then behold, those slain with the sword!
And if I enter the city,
Then behold, those sick from famine!
Yes, both prophet and (I)priest go about in a land they do not know.’ ”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 14:14 Telling the future by signs and omens