6 “Do not prophesy,” their prophets say.

“Do not prophesy about these things;

disgrace will not overtake us.”

7 You descendants of Jacob, should it be said,

“Does the Lord become impatient?

Does he do such things?”

“Do not my words do good

to the one whose ways are upright?

8 Lately my people have risen up

like an enemy.

You strip off the rich robe

from those who pass by without a care,

like men returning from battle.

9 You drive the women of my people

from their pleasant homes.

You take away my blessing

from their children forever.

10 Get up, go away!

For this is not your resting place,

because it is defiled,

it is ruined, beyond all remedy.

11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says,

‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’

that would be just the prophet for this people!

6 Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: They shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.

7 O thou that art named the house of Jacob, Is the spirit of the Lord straitened? Are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? 8 Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: Ye pull off the robe with the garment From them that pass by securely as men averse from war. 9 The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; From their children have ye taken away my glory for ever. 10 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: Because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. 11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; He shall even be the prophet of this people.

6 “Don’t say such things,”

the people respond.

“Don’t prophesy like that.

Such disasters will never come our way!”

7 Should you talk that way, O family of Israel?

Will the Lord’s Spirit have patience with such behavior?

If you would do what is right,

you would find my words comforting.

8 Yet to this very hour

my people rise against me like an enemy!

You steal the shirts right off the backs

of those who trusted you,

making them as ragged as men

returning from battle.

9 You have evicted women from their pleasant homes

and forever stripped their children of all that God would give them.

10 Up! Begone!

This is no longer your land and home,

for you have filled it with sin

and ruined it completely.

11 Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you,

“I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!”

That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!

6 “Do not prattle,” you say to those who prophesy.

So they shall not prophesy to you;

They shall not return insult for insult.

7 You who are named the house of Jacob:

“Is the Spirit of the Lord restricted?

Are these His doings?

Do not My words do good

To him who walks uprightly?

8 “Lately My people have risen up as an enemy—

You pull off the robe with the garment

From those who trust you, as they pass by,

Like men returned from war.

9 The women of My people you cast out

From their pleasant houses;

From their children

You have taken away My glory forever.

10 “Arise and depart,

For this is not your rest;

Because it is defiled, it shall destroy,

Yes, with utter destruction.

11 If a man should walk in a false spirit

And speak a lie, saying,

‘I will prophesy to you of wine and drink,’

Even he would be the prattler of this people.

6 The prophets say, “Don’t prophesy to us!

Don’t prophesy about these things!

Nothing to make us feel bad will happen!”

7 But I must say this, people of Jacob:

The Lord is becoming angry about what you have done.

My words are welcome

to the person who does what is right.

8 But you are fighting against my people like an enemy.

You take the coats from people who pass by;

you rob them of their safety;

you plan war.

9 You’ve forced the women of my people

from their nice houses;

you’ve taken my glory

from their children forever.

10 Get up and leave.

This is not your place of rest anymore.

You have made this place unclean,

and it is doomed to destruction.

11 But you people want a false prophet

who will tell you nothing but lies.

You want one who promises to prophesy good things for you

if you give him wine and beer.

He’s just the prophet for you.

6 Prophesy ye not, thus they prophesy. They shall not prophesy to these: reproaches shall not depart. 7 Shall it be said, O house of Jacob, Is the Spirit of Jehovah straitened? are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? 8 But of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye strip the robe from off the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war. 9 The women of my people ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their young children ye take away my glory for ever. 10 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your resting-place; because of uncleanness that destroyeth, even with a grievous destruction. 11 If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

6 Prophesy ye not, they prophesy. If they do not prophesy to these, the ignominy will not depart. 7 O thou that art named the house of Jacob, Is Jehovah impatient? are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? 8 But of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye strip off the mantle with the garment from them that pass by securely, that are averse from war. 9 The women of my people do ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their young children do ye take away my magnificence for ever. 10 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not the resting-place, because of defilement that bringeth destruction, even a grievous destruction. 11 If a man walking in wind and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink, he shall be the prophet of this people.

6 Your prophets say, “Don’t prophesy! 

Don’t prophesy such things! 

Disgrace will never overtake us.” 

7 Should the descendants of Jacob be asked: 

Has the Spirit of the Lord become impatient with you? 

Has he done these things? 

Are his words good for those who live honestly? 

8 Recently, my people have turned into enemies. 

You take coats from those who pass by without a care 

as they return from war. 

9 You force the women among my people out of their pleasant homes 

and take my glory away from their children forever. 

10 Get up, and go away! 

This is not a place to rest! 

It will be destroyed, completely destroyed, 

because it offends me. 

11 Liars and frauds may go around and say, 

“We will preach to you about wine and liquor.” 

They would be just the type of preacher you want. 

6 “Quit your preaching,” they preach.

“They should not preach these things;

shame will not overtake us.”

7 House of Jacob, should it be asked,

“Is the Spirit of the Lord impatient?

Are these the things He does?”

Don’t My words bring good

to the one who walks uprightly?

8 But recently My people have risen up

like an enemy:

You strip off the splendid robe

from those who are passing through confidently,

like those returning from war.

9 You force the women of My people

out of their comfortable homes,

and you take My blessing

from their children forever.

10 Get up and leave,

for this is not your place of rest,

because defilement brings destruction—

a grievous destruction!

11 If a man of wind comes

and invents lies:

“I will preach to you about wine and beer,”

he would be just the preacher for this people!

6 “Do not preach”—thus they preach—

“one should not preach of such things;

disgrace will not overtake us.”

7 Should this be said, O house of Jacob?

Is the Lord’s patience exhausted?

Are these his doings?

Do not my words do good

to one who walks uprightly?

8 But you rise up against my people as an enemy;

you strip the robe from the peaceful,

from those who pass by trustingly

with no thought of war.

9 The women of my people you drive out

from their pleasant houses;

from their young children you take away

my glory forever.

10 Arise and go;

for this is no place to rest,

because of uncleanness that destroys

with a grievous destruction.

11 If someone were to go about uttering empty falsehoods,

saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”

such a one would be the preacher for this people!

6 “Do not preach!” they are preaching.

They should not preach to these;

disgrace will not overtake us.

7 Should this be said, O house of Jacob?

Is the patience of Yahweh shortened?

Are these his deeds?

Are my words not pleasing

to him who walks upright?

8 But recently my people have risen up as an enemy;

from before the cloak you strip off the robe

from those passing by in confidence,

returning from war.

9 You have driven out the women of my people

from the houses of their pleasure.

From their children you have taken away

my glory forever.

10 Arise and go,

for this is no resting place,

on account of uncleanness that destroys

with painful destruction.

11 If a man walks about in a spirit of deception and lies,

saying “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”

then he would be a preacher for this people!

6 “Don’t prophesy,” the people’s prophets say.

“Don’t prophesy about bad things.

Nothing shameful is going to happen to us.”

7 People of Jacob, should others say,

“The Lord isn’t angry with us.

He doesn’t do things like that”?

The Lord replies, “What I promise brings good things

to those who lead honest lives.

8 But lately my people have attacked one another

as if they were enemies.

You strip the rich robes off

those who happen to pass by.

They thought they were as safe as men

returning from a battle they had won.

9 You drive the women among my people

out of their pleasant homes.

You take my blessing away

from their children forever.

10 Get up! Leave this land!

It is no longer your resting place.

You have made it ‘unclean.’

You have completely destroyed it.

11 Suppose a prophet goes around telling lies.

And he prophesies that you will have

plenty of wine and beer.

Then that kind of prophet would be

just right for this nation!

6 ‘Do not speak out,’ so they speak out.

But if they do not speak out concerning these things,

Reproaches will not be turned back.

7 “Is it being said, O house of Jacob:

‘Is the Spirit of the Lord impatient?

Are these His doings?’

Do not My words do good

To the one walking uprightly?

8 “Recently My people have arisen as an enemy—

You strip the robe off the garment

From unsuspecting passers-by,

From those returned from war.

9 “The women of My people you evict,

Each one from her pleasant house.

From her children you take My splendor forever.

10 “Arise and go,

For this is no place of rest

Because of the uncleanness that brings on destruction,

A painful destruction.

11 “If a man walking after wind and falsehood

Had told lies and said,

‘I will speak out to you concerning wine and liquor,’

He would be spokesman to this people.