16 Thus says the Lord of hosts,

“aDo not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you.

They are bleading you into futility;

They speak a cvision of their own 1imagination,

Not dfrom the mouth of the Lord.

17 “They keep saying to those who adespise Me,

‘The Lord has said, “bYou will have peace” ’;

And as for everyone who walks in the cstubbornness of his own heart,

They say, ‘dCalamity will not come upon you.’

18 “But awho has stood in the council of the Lord,

That he should see and hear His word?

Who has given bheed to 1His word and listened?

19 “Behold, the astorm of the Lord has gone forth in wrath,

Even a whirling tempest;

It will swirl down on the head of the wicked.

20 “The aanger of the Lord will not turn back

Until He has bperformed and carried out the purposes of His heart;

cIn the last days you will clearly understand it.

21 “aI did not send these prophets,

But they ran.

I did not speak to them,

But they prophesied.

22 “But if they had astood in My council,

Then they would have bannounced My words to My people,

And would have turned them back from their evil way

And from the evil of their deeds.

23 “Am I a God who is anear,” declares the Lord,

“And not a God far off?

24 “Can a man ahide himself in hiding places

So I do not see him?” declares the Lord.

“bDo I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.

25 “I have aheard what the prophets have said who bprophesy falsely in My name, saying, ‘I had a cdream, I had a dream!’

26 “How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the adeception of their own heart,

27 who intend to amake My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another, just as their fathers bforgot My name because of Baal?

28 “The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has aMy word speak My word in truth. bWhat does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord.

29 “Is not My word like afire?” declares the Lord, “and like a bhammer which shatters a rock?

30 “Therefore behold, aI am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who steal My words from each other.

31 “Behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who use their tongues and declare, ‘The Lord declares.’

32 “Behold, I am against those who have prophesied afalse dreams,” declares the Lord, “and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and breckless boasting; yet cI did not send them or command them, nor do they dfurnish this people the slightest benefit,” declares the Lord.