Open English Translation JER Chapter 23

23 Yahweh declares that the shepherds who destroy and scatter the flock from my pasture won’t end well. 2 Therefore, this is what Yisrael’s god Yahweh says about the shepherds who tend My people: Yahweh declares that you’ve all scattered my flock and driven them away, and haven’t looked after them. Listen, I’m about to punish you all for your wicked actions. 3 Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the countries that I’ve banished them to and I’ll return them to their pasture, where they’ll be fruitful and multiply. 4 Yahweh declares that I’ll appoint shepherds over them who’ll look after them, and then they’ll no longer be afraid or dismayed, nor will any go missing. 5 Listen, Yahweh declares that the time is coming

when I will appoint a righteous branch for David

and he will reign wisely as king

and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.[ref]

6 At that time, Yehudah will be rescued and Yisrael will live in security,

and this is the name that he’ll be known by: Yahweh who does what is right for us.

7 Listen, Yahweh declares that the time is coming when they’ll no longer say, ‘As surely as Yahweh lives, who brought the Israelis out from Egypt.’ 8 Instead they’ll say, ‘As surely as Yahweh lives, who brought and led the Israelis out of the land in the north and all the other lands that he’d banished them to.’ Then they’ll live in their own land again.

9 As for the prophets,

I feel broken inside and all my bones tremble.

I’ve become like a drunkard—like a man overcome by wine,

because of Yahweh—because of his holy words.

10 Yes, the land is full of adulterers—

the land mourns because of the curse,

and the pastures in the wilderness have dried up—

their course is evil and their power is misused.

11 Yes, both prophet and priest are compromised—

even in my house I’ve discovered their wickedness.

That is Yahweh’s declaration.

12 Therefore their path will become slippery.

They’ll be pushed into the darkness and will fall into it

because I’ll send them disaster in the year of their punishment.

That is Yahweh’s declaration.

13 Among the prophets in Shomrom (Samaria), I’ve seen offensive behaviour:

they prophesied by Baal and led my people Yisrael astray.

14 Also, among the prophets in Yerushalem, I’ve seen horrible things:[ref]

They commit adultery and walk in lies.

They empower those who do evil,

→ so that no one turns their back on wickedness.

They’re all like Sodom to me.

≈ The people in Jerusalem are like Gomorrah,

15 therefore this is what Commander-in-chief Yahweh says about the prophets:

I’ll feed them wormwood

≈ and give them poisoned water to drink,

because ungodliness has spread throughout the land

starting from Yerushalem’s prophets.

16 This is what Commander-in-chief Yahweh says:

Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you.

They are filling you all with false hopes.

They speak visions from their own minds,

not from Yahweh’s mouth.

17 They keep telling those who despise me,

that Yahweh says that you’ll all have peace.

They tell everyone who practises their own stubborn ways

that no harm will come to them.

18 But which of them has attended Yahweh’s council meeting

where he could see what’s happening and hear his message?

Who has paid attention to his message and obeyed it?

19 Listen, the storm of Yahweh’s rage is going out,

and the storm is creating a whirlwind that’s whirling around the heads of those who are wicked.

20 Yahweh’s anger won’t turn back until he’s carried out his plans and purposes.

In the final days, you’ll all understand it.

21 I didn’t send those prophets, yet they rushed to proclaim their messages.

≈ I didn’t speak to them, yet they still prophesied.

22 If they had in fact attended my council meeting,

they would have proclaimed my messages to my people

and turned them back from their wickedness and their wicked activities.

23 Yahweh declares:

Am I a god who’s only nearby, but who isn’t also a god from far away?

24 Would someone hide themself in some place and think that I couldn’t see them? Yahweh asks.

Don’t I fill the heavens and the earth? declares Yahweh.

25 Those prophets who prophesy lies in my name, I’ve heard them say, ‘I had a dream. I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this go on, with prophets who prophesy lies from their own minds, but who are prophesying from the deceitfulness of their own hearts. 27 They’re planning on making my people forget my name with the dreams that they report, each one to his neighbour, just as their ancestors forgot my name in favour of Baal’s name. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream, report that dream. However, the one who I’ve declared something to, let him declare my message truthfully. What does straw have to do with grain? That is Yahweh’s declaration. 29 Isn’t my message like fire, and like a hammer that shatters rock? That is Yahweh’s declaration. 30 So listen, Yahweh declares that I’m against the prophets who steal my messages from someone else. 31 Yes, I’m against those prophets who speak their own messages by claim that the messages came from me. 32 Yahweh declares that indeed, I’m against those who prophesy false dreams and retell them to lead my people astray with their reckless lies. It wasn’t me who sent or commanded them, and they’re of no benefit at all to those people. That is Yahweh’s declaration.

33 Now when this people group or a prophet or priest asks you, ‘What is Yahweh’s burden?’ you should tell them, ‘You are the burden and I’ll abandon you.’ That is Yahweh’s declaration. 34 As for the prophet or priest or anyone who claims that he knows Yahweh’s burden, I’ll punish that man and his household. 35 ◙ 36 ◙ 37 ◙ 38 ◙ 39 ◙ 40 ◙