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.

33 “Now when this people or the prophet or a priest asks you saying, ‘What is the 1aoracle of the Lord?’ then you shall say to them, ‘What 1oracle?’ The Lord declares, ‘I will babandon you.’

34 “Then as for the prophet or the priest or the people who say, ‘The aoracle of the Lord,’ I will bring punishment upon that man and his household.

35 “Thus will each of you say to his neighbor and to his brother, ‘aWhat has the Lord answered?’ or, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’

36 “For you will no longer remember the oracle of the Lord, because every man’s own word will become the oracle, and you have aperverted the words of the bliving God, the Lord of hosts, our God.

37 “Thus you will say to that prophet, ‘What has the Lord answered you?’ and, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’

38 “For if you say, ‘The oracle of the Lord!’ surely thus says the Lord, ‘Because you said this word, “The oracle of the Lord!” I have also sent to you, saying, “You shall not say, ‘The oracle of the Lord!’ ” ’

39 “Therefore behold, aI will surely forget you and cast you away from My presence, along with the city which I gave you and your fathers.

40 “I will put an everlasting areproach on you and an everlasting humiliation which will not be forgotten.”