Jeremiah 23:21–36

21 aI have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. 22 But if they had bstood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have cturned them from their evil way, and from dthe evil of their doings. 23 Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and enot a God afar off? 24 fCan any hide himself in secret places ethat I shall not see him? saith the Lord. gDo not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. 25 I have heard what the prophets said, hthat prophesy lies in my name, saying, I ihave dreamed, I have dreamed. 26 How long shall this be in the heart of kthe prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are lprophets of the deceit of their own heart; 27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name iby their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, mas their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. 28 The prophet †that hath a dream, ilet him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. 29 nIs not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that obreaketh the rock in pieces? 30 Therefore, behold, pI am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. 31 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, ||that use their tongues, and say, He saith. 32 Behold, I am against them ithat prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and qcause my people to err by their lies, and by their rlightness; syet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.

33 And when this people, or tthe prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is uthe burden of the Lord? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? vI will even forsake you, saith the Lord. 34 And as for tthe prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, uThe burden of the Lord, I will even †punish that man and his house. 35 Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, wWhat hath the Lord answered? and, What hath the Lord spoken? 36 And the burden of the Lord shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of xthe living God, of the Lord of hosts our God.