Jeremiah 23
ISV Parallel NIV [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT HEB]
International Standard VersionNew International Version
1"How terrible for the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD. 1"Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD.
2Therefore, this is what the LORD God of Israel says about the shepherds who are shepherding my people, "You have scattered my flock and driven them away. You haven't taken care of them, and now I'm about to take care of you because of your evil deeds," declares the LORD. 2Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: "Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done," declares the LORD.
3"I'll gather the remnant of my flock from all the countries where I've driven them, and bring them back to their pasture where they'll be fruitful and increase in numbers. 3"I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number.
4I'll raise up shepherds over them, and they'll shepherd them. My flock will no longer be afraid or terrified, and none will be missing," declares the LORD.4I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.
5"The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I'll raise up a righteous branch for David. He will be a king who rules wisely, and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land.5"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.
6In his time Judah will be delivered and Israel will dwell in safety. This is the name by which he will be known: 'The LORD Our Righteousness.'6In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.
7"Therefore, the time is coming," declares the LORD, "when people will no longer say, 'As surely as the LORD lives who brought up the Israelis from the land of Egypt,' 7"So then, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when people will no longer say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,'
8but they'll say, 'As surely as the LORD lives who brought the descendants of the Israelis from the land of the north and from all the lands where I had driven them and brought them into the land.' Then they'll live in their own land."8but 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."
9Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me, and all my bones shake. I'm like a drunk man, like a person overcome with wine, because of the LORD, and because of his holy words.9Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me; all my bones tremble. I am like a drunken man, like a strong man overcome by wine, because of the LORD and his holy words.
10Indeed, the land is full of adulterers. Indeed, the land mourns because of the curse; the pastures of the wilderness have dried up. The adulterers' lifestyles are evil, and they use their strength for what is not right.10The land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land lies parched and the pastures in the wilderness are withered. The prophets follow an evil course and use their power unjustly.
11Indeed, both priest and prophet are ungodly. Even in my house I find evil," declares the LORD.11"Both prophet and priest are godless; even in my temple I find their wickedness," declares the LORD.
12Therefore their way will be slippery. They'll be driven out into the darkness, where they'll fall. For I'll bring disaster on them, the year of their judgment," declares the LORD.12"Therefore their path will become slippery; they will be banished to darkness and there they will fall. I will bring disaster on them in the year they are punished," declares the LORD.
13"Among the prophets of Samaria I saw a disgusting thing, for they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.13"Among the prophets of Samaria I saw this repulsive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.
14Among the prophets of Jerusalem I saw a horrible thing, for they commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of those who do evil, so that no one repents of his evil. All of them are like Sodom to me, and her residents like Gomorrah."14And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that not one of them turns from their wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah."
15Therefore, this is what the LORD God of the Heavenly Armies says about the prophets, "I'm about to make them eat wormwood and drink poisoned water, because godlessness has spread from the prophets of Jerusalem throughout the land."15Therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says concerning the prophets: "I will make them eat bitter food and drink poisoned water, because from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land."
16This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "Don't listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you; they're giving you false hopes. They declare visions from their own minds— they don't come from the LORD! 16This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.
17They keep on saying to those who despise me, 'The LORD has said, "You will have peace."' To all who stubbornly follow their own desires they say, 'Disaster won't come upon you.'17They keep saying to those who despise me, 'The LORD says: You will have peace.' And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, 'No harm will come to you.'
18But who has stood in the LORD's council to see and hear his message? Who has paid attention to his message and obeyed it? 18But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?
19Look, the storm of the LORD's wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest, and it will swirl down around the head of the wicked.19See, the storm of the LORD will burst out in wrath, a whirlwind swirling down on the heads of the wicked.
20The LORD's anger won't turn back until he has accomplished what he intended to do. In the future you will clearly understand it.20The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come you will understand it clearly.
21I didn't send these prophets, but they ran anyway. I didn't speak to them, but they prophesied.21I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.
22If they had stood in my council and had delivered my words to my people, then they would have turned them back from their evil way, from their evil deeds."22But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.
23"Am I a God who is near," declares the LORD, "rather than a God who is far away?23"Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away?
24If a person hides himself in secret places, will I not see him?" declares the LORD. "I fill the heavens and the earth, do I not?" declares the LORD.24Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.
25"I've heard what the prophets who prophesy lies in my name have said: 'I had a dream; I had a dream.' 25"I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!'
26How long will this go on? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy from the deceit that is in their hearts? 26How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?
27With their dreams that they relate to one another, they plan to make my people forget my name just as their ancestors forgot my name by embracing Baal. 27They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship.
28Let the prophet who has a dream relate the dream, but let whoever receives my message speak my message truthfully. What does straw have in common with wheat?" declares the LORD. 28Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the LORD.
29"My message is like fire or like a hammer that shatters rock, is it not?" declares the LORD.29"Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
30"Therefore, look, I'm against the prophets," declares the LORD, "who steal my words from each other. 30"Therefore," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me.
31Look, I'm against the prophets," declares the LORD, "who use their tongues to issue a declaration.31Yes," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, 'The LORD declares.'
32Look, I'm against those who prophesy based on false dreams," declares the LORD, "and relate them and lead my people astray with their lies and their recklessness. I didn't send them; I didn't command them, and they provide no benefit at all to these people," declares the LORD.32Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the LORD. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the LORD.
33"Jeremiah, when these people, the prophet, or a priest ask you, 'What is the oracle of the LORD?' say to them, 'You are the burden, and I'll cast you out,'" declares the LORD. 33"When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, 'What is the message from the LORD?' say to them, 'What message? I will forsake you, declares the LORD.'
34"As for the prophet, the priest, or the people who say, 'I have an oracle of the LORD,' I'll judge that person and his household. 34If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, 'This is a message from the LORD,' I will punish them and their household.
35This is what you should say to one another and among yourselves, 'What has the LORD answered?' or 'What has the LORD said?' 35This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: 'What is the LORD's answer?' or 'What has the LORD spoken?'
36But you are to no longer mention the oracle of the LORD, because the oracle is only for the person to whom the LORD gives his message, and you have overturned the words of the living God, the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, our God. 36But you must not mention 'a message from the LORD' again, because each one's word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God.
37This is what you should say to the prophet, 'What has the LORD answered?' or 'What has the LORD said?' 37This is what you keep saying to a prophet: 'What is the LORD's answer to you?' or 'What has the LORD spoken?'
38Since you're saying, 'We have an oracle of the LORD,' therefore this is what the LORD says: He will answer your message with this message, 'Burden of the LORD,' and I'll send you away with these words: 'Don't say, "Oracle of the LORD."' 38Although 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.'
39Therefore I'll surely forget you and cast you and the city I gave you and your ancestors out of my presence. 39Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors.
40I'll bring on you everlasting reproach and everlasting humiliation that won't ever be forgotten."40I will bring on you everlasting disgrace--everlasting shame that will not be forgotten."
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Jeremiah 22
Top of Page
Top of Page