16 This is what the Lord of Armies says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are deluding you. They speak visions from their own minds,f not from the Lord’s mouth.g 17 They keep on saying to those who despise me,h ‘The Lord has spoken: You will have peace.’i They have said to everyone who follows the stubbornness of his heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’ ”

18 For who has stood in the councilj of the Lord

to see and hear his word?

Who has paid attention to his word and obeyed?

19 Look, a storm from the Lord!k

Wrath has gone out,

a whirling storm.

It will whirl about the heads of the wicked.

20 The Lord’s anger will not turn awayl

until he has completely fulfilled the purposes of his heart.

In time to come you will understand it clearly.m

21 I did not send out these prophets,n

yet they ran.o

I did not speak to them,

yet they prophesied.

22 If they had really stood in my council,

they would have enabled my people to hear my words

and would have turned them from their evil ways

and their evil deeds.p

23 “Am I a God who is only near”q—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and not a God who is far away? 24 Can a person hide in secret places where I cannot see him?”r—the Lord’s declaration. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?”s—the Lord’s declaration.

25 “I have heard what the prophets who prophesy a lie in my name have said: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’t 26 How long will this continue in the minds of the prophets prophesying lies, prophets of the deceit of their own minds? 27 Through their dreams that they tell one another, they plan to cause my people to forget my name as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship.u 28 The prophet who has only a dream should recount the dream, but the one who has my word should speak my word truthfully, for what is straw compared to grain?”—this is the Lord’s declaration. 29 “Is not my word like fire”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and like a hammer that pulverizes rock? 30 Therefore, take note! I am against the prophets”v—the Lord’s declaration—“who steal my words from each other. 31 I am against the prophets”—the Lord’s declaration—“who use their own tongues to make a declaration. 32 I am against those who prophesy false dreams”w—the Lord’s declaration—“telling them and leading my people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at allx to these people”—this is the Lord’s declaration.