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21 Verbum quod factum est ad Jeremiam a Domino, quando misit ad eum rex Sedecias Phassur filium Melchiae, et Sophoniam filium Maasiae sacerdotem, dicens:

Interroga pro nobis Dominum, quia Nabuchodonosor, rex Babylonis, praeliatur adversum nos: si forte faciat Dominus nobiscum secundum omnia mirabilia sua, et recedat a nobis.

Et dixit Jeremias ad eos: Sic dicetis Sedeciae:

Haec dicit Dominus Deus Israel: Ecce ego convertam vasa belli quae in manibus vestris sunt, et quibus vos pugnatis adversum regem Babylonis et Chaldaeos qui obsident vos in circuitu murorum: et congregabo ea in medio civitatis hujus.

Et debellabo ego vos in manu extenta, et in brachio forti, et in furore, et in indignatione, et in ira grandi.

Et percutiam habitatores civitatis hujus: homines et bestiae pestilentia magna morientur.

Et post haec, ait Dominus, dabo Sedeciam regem Juda, et servos ejus, et populum ejus, et qui derelicti sunt in civitate hac a peste, et gladio, et fame, in manu Nabuchodonosor regis Babylonis, et in manu inimicorum eorum, et in manu quaerentium animam eorum: et percutiet eos in ore gladii, et non flectetur, neque parcet, nec miserebitur.

Et ad populum hunc dices: Haec dicit Dominus: Ecce ego do coram vobis viam vitae, et viam mortis.

Qui habitaverit in urbe hac morietur gladio, et fame, et peste: qui autem egressus fuerit, et transfugerit ad Chaldaeos qui obsident vos, vivet, et erit ei anima sua quasi spolium.

10 Posui enim faciem meam super civitatem hanc in malum, et non in bonum, ait Dominus: in manu regis Babylonis dabitur, et exuret eam igni.

11 Et domui regis Juda: Audite verba Domini,

12 domus David. Haec dicit Dominus: Judicate mane judicium, et eruite vi oppressum de manu calumniantis, ne forte egrediatur ut ignis indignatio mea, et succendatur, et non sit qui extinguat, propter malitiam studiorum vestrorum.

13 Ecce ego ad te, habitatricem vallis solidae atque campestris, ait Dominus: qui dicitis: Quis percutiet nos? et quis ingredietur domos nostras?

14 Et visitabo super vos juxta fructum studiorum vestrorum, dicit Dominus: et succendam ignem in saltu ejus, et devorabit omnia in circuitu ejus.

22 Haec dicit Dominus: Descende in domum regis Juda, et loqueris ibi verbum hoc,

et dices: Audi verbum Domini, rex Juda, qui sedes super solium David: tu et servi tui, et populus tuus, qui ingredimini per portas istas.

Haec dicit Dominus: Facite judicium et justitiam, et liberate vi oppressum de manu calumniatoris: et advenam, et pupillum, et viduam nolite contristare, neque opprimatis inique, et sanguinem innocentem ne effundatis in loco isto.

Si enim facientes feceritis verbum istud, ingredientur per portas domus hujus reges sedentes de genere David super thronum ejus, et ascendentes currus et equos, ipsi, et servi, et populus eorum.

Quod si non audieritis verba haec: in memetipso juravi, dicit Dominus, quia in solitudinem erit domus haec.

Quia haec dicit Dominus super domum regis Juda: Galaad, tu mihi caput Libani, si non posuero te solitudinem, urbes inhabitabiles!

Et sanctificabo super te, interficientem virum et arma ejus: et succident electas cedros tuas, et praecipitabunt in ignem.

Et pertransibunt gentes multae per civitatem hanc, et dicet unusquisque proximo suo: Quare fecit Dominus sic civitati huic grandi?

Et respondebunt: Eo quod dereliquerint pactum Domini Dei sui, et adoraverint deos alienos, et servierint eis.

10 Nolite flere mortuum, neque lugeatis super eum fletu: plangite eum qui egreditur, quia non revertetur ultra, nec videbit terram nativitatis suae.

11 Quia haec dicit Dominus ad Sellum, filium Josiae, regem Juda, qui regnavit pro Josia patre suo, qui egressus est de loco isto: Non revertetur huc amplius,

12 sed in loco ad quem transtuli eum, ibi morietur, et terram istam non videbit amplius.

13 Vae qui aedificat domum suam in injustitia, et coenacula sua non in judicio: amicum suum opprimet frustra, et mercedem ejus non reddet ei:

14 qui dicit: AEdificabo mihi domum latam, et coenacula spatiosa: qui aperit sibi fenestras et facit laquearia cedrina, pingitque sinopide.

15 Numquid regnabis quoniam confers te cedro? pater tuus numquid non comedit et bibit, et fecit judicium et justitiam tunc cum bene erat ei?

16 Judicavit causam pauperis et egeni in bonum suum: numquid non ideo quia cognovit me? dicit Dominus.

17 Tui vero oculi et cor ad avaritiam, et ad sanguinem innocentem fundendum, et ad calumniam, et ad cursum mali operis.

18 Propterea haec dicit Dominus ad Joakim, filium Josiae, regem Juda: Non plangent eum: Vae frater! et vae soror! non concrepabunt ei: Vae domine! et vae inclyte!

19 Sepultura asini sepelietur, putrefactus et projectus extra portas Jerusalem.

20 Ascende Libanum, et clama, et in Basan da vocem tuam: et clama ad transeuntes, quia contriti sunt omnes amatores tui.

21 Locutus sum ad te in abundantia tua, et dixisti: Non audiam: haec est via tua ab adolescentia tua, quia non audisti vocem meam.

22 Omnes pastores tuos pascet ventus, et amatores tui in captivitatem ibunt: et tunc confunderis, et erubesces ab omni malitia tua.

23 Quae sedes in Libano, et nidificas in cedris, quomodo congemuisti cum venissent tibi dolores, quasi dolores parturientis?

24 Vivo ego, dicit Dominus, quia si fuerit Jechonias filius Joakim regis Juda annulus in manu dextera mea, inde evellam eum,

25 et dabo te in manu quaerentium animam tuam, et in manu quorum tu formidas faciem, et in manu Nabuchodonosor regis Babylonis, et in manu Chaldaeorum:

26 et mittam te, et matrem tuam quae genuit te, in terram alienam, in qua nati non estis, ibique moriemini.

27 Et in terram ad quam ipsi levant animam suam ut revertantur illuc, non revertentur.

28 Numquid vas fictile atque contritum vir iste Jechonias? numquid vas absque omni voluptate? quare abjecti sunt ipse et semen ejus, et projecti in terram quam ignoraverunt?

29 Terra, terra, terra, audi sermonem Domini.

30 Haec dicit Dominus: Scribe virum istum sterilem, virum qui in diebus suis non prosperabitur: nec enim erit de semine ejus vir qui sedeat super solium David, et potestatem habeat ultra in Juda.

23 Vae pastoribus qui disperdunt et dilacerant gregem pascuae meae! dicit Dominus.

Ideo haec dicit Dominus Deus Israel ad pastores qui pascunt populum meum: Vos dispersistis gregem meum, et ejecistis eos, et non visitastis eos: ecce ego visitabo super vos malitiam studiorum vestrorum, ait Dominus.

Et ego congregabo reliquias gregis mei de omnibus terris ad quas ejecero eos illuc: et convertam eos ad rura sua, et crescent et multiplicabuntur.

Et suscitabo super eos pastores, et pascent eos: non formidabunt ultra, et non pavebunt, et nullus quaeretur ex numero, dicit Dominus.

Ecce dies veniunt, dicit Dominus, et suscitabo David germen justum: et regnabit rex, et sapiens erit, et faciet judicium et justitiam in terra.

In diebus illis salvabitur Juda, et Israel habitabit confidenter: et hoc est nomen quod vocabunt eum: Dominus justus noster.

Propter hoc ecce dies veniunt, dicit Dominus, et non dicent ultra: Vivit Dominus, qui eduxit filios Israel de terra AEgypti,

sed: Vivit Dominus, qui eduxit et adduxit semen domus Israel de terra aquilonis, et de cunctis terris ad quas ejeceram eos illuc, et habitabunt in terra sua.

Ad prophetas: Contritum est cor meum in medio mei; contremuerunt omnia ossa mea: factus sum quasi vir ebrius, et quasi homo madidus a vino, a facie Domini, et a facie verborum sanctorum ejus.

10 Quia adulteris repleta est terra, quia a facie maledictionis luxit terra, arefacta sunt arva deserti: factus est cursus eorum malus, et fortitudo eorum dissimilis.

11 Propheta namque et sacerdos polluti sunt, et in domo mea inveni malum eorum, ait Dominus.

12 Idcirco via eorum erit quasi lubricum in tenebris: impellentur enim, et corruent in ea: afferam enim super eos mala, annum visitationis eorum, ait Dominus.

13 Et in prophetis Samariae vidi fatuitatem: prophetabant in Baal, et decipiebant populum meum Israel.

14 Et in prophetis Jerusalem vidi similitudinem adulterantium, et iter mendacii: et confortaverunt manus pessimorum, ut non converteretur unusquisque a malitia sua: facti sunt mihi omnes ut Sodoma, et habitatores ejus quasi Gomorrha.

15 Propterea haec dicit Dominus exercituum ad prophetas: Ecce ego cibabo eos absinthio, et potabo eos felle: a prophetis enim Jerusalem egressa est pollutio super omnem terram.

16 Haec dicit Dominus exercituum: Nolite audire verba prophetarum qui prophetant vobis, et decipiunt vos: visionem cordis sui loquuntur, non de ore Domini.

17 Dicunt his qui blasphemant me: Locutus est Dominus: Pax erit vobis: et omni qui ambulat in pravitate cordis sui dixerunt: Non veniet super vos malum.

18 Quis enim affuit in consilio Domini, et vidit, et audivit sermonem ejus? quis consideravit verbum illius, et audivit?

19 Ecce turbo Dominicae indignationis egredietur, et tempestas erumpens super caput impiorum veniet.

20 Non revertetur furor Domini, usque dum faciat et usque dum compleat cogitationem cordis sui: in novissimis diebus intelligetis consilium ejus.

21 Non mittebam prophetas, et ipsi currebant: non loquebar ad eos, et ipsi prophetabant.

22 Si stetissent in consilio meo, et nota fecissent verba mea populo meo, avertissem utique eos a via sua mala, et a cogitationibus suis pessimis.

23 Putasne Deus e vicino ego sum, dicit Dominus, et non Deus de longe?

24 Si occultabitur vir in absconditis, et ego non videbo eum? dicit Dominus. Numquid non caelum et terram ego impleo? dicit Dominus.

25 Audivi quae dixerunt prophetae prophetantes in nomine meo mendacium, atque dicentes: Somniavi, somniavi.

26 Usquequo istud est in corde prophetarum vaticinantium mendacium, et prophetantium seductiones cordis sui?

27 Qui volunt facere ut obliviscatur populus meus nominis mei, propter somnia eorum quae narrat unusquisque ad proximum suum, sicut obliti sunt patres eorum nominis mei propter Baal?

28 Propheta qui habet somnium, narret somnium: et qui habet sermonem meum, loquatur sermonem meum vere. Quid paleis ad triticum? dicit Dominus.

29 Numquid non verba mea sunt quasi ignis, dicit Dominus, et quasi malleus conterens petram?

30 Propterea ecce ego ad prophetas, ait Dominus, qui furantur verba mea unusquisque a proximo suo.

31 Ecce ego ad prophetas, ait Dominus, qui assumunt linguas suas, et aiunt: Dicit Dominus.

32 Ecce ego ad prophetas somniantes mendacium, ait Dominus, qui narraverunt ea, et seduxerunt populum meum in mendacio suo et in miraculis suis, cum ego non misissem eos, nec mandassem eis: qui nihil profuerunt populo huic, dicit Dominus.

33 Si igitur interrogaverit te populus iste, vel propheta, aut sacerdos, dicens: Quod est onus Domini? dices ad eos: Vos estis onus: projiciam quippe vos, dicit Dominus.

34 Et propheta, et sacerdos, et populus qui dicit: Onus Domini: visitabo super virum illum et super domum ejus.

35 Haec dicetis unusquisque ad proximum, et ad fratrem suum: Quid respondit Dominus? et quid locutus est Dominus?

36 Et onus Domini ultra non memorabitur: quia onus erit unicuique sermo suus, et pervertistis verba Dei viventis, Domini exercituum, Dei nostri.

37 Haec dices ad prophetam: Quid respondit tibi Dominus? et quid locutus est Dominus?

38 Si autem onus Domini dixeritis, propter hoc haec dicit Dominus: Quia dixistis sermonem istum: Onus Domini, et misi ad vos dicens: Nolite dicere: Onus Domini:

39 propterea ecce ego tollam vos portans, et derelinquam vos, et civitatem quam dedi vobis et patribus vestris, a facie mea:

40 et dabo vos in opprobrium sempiternum, et in ignominiam aeternam, quae numquam oblivione delebitur.

24 Ostendit mihi Dominus: et ecce duo calathi pleni ficis, positi ante templum Domini, postquam transtulit Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis Jechoniam filium Joakim, regem Juda, et principes ejus, et fabrum, et inclusorem, de Jerusalem, et adduxit eos in Babylonem.

Calathus unus ficus bonas habebat nimis, ut solent ficus esse primi temporis: et calathus unus ficus habebat malas nimis, quae comedi non poterant eo quod essent malae.

Et dixit Dominus ad me: Quid tu vides, Jeremia? Et dixi: Ficus, ficus bonas, bonas valde: et malas, malas valde, quae comedi non possunt eo quod sint malae.

Et factum est verbum Domini ad me, dicens:

Haec dicit Dominus Deus Israel: Sicut ficus hae bonae, sic cognoscam transmigrationem Juda, quam emisi de loco isto in terram Chaldaeorum, in bonum.

Et ponam oculos meos super eos ad placandum, et reducam eos in terram hanc: et aedificabo eos, et non destruam: et plantabo eos, et non evellam.

Et dabo eis cor ut sciant me, quia ego sum Dominus: et erunt mihi in populum, et ego ero eis in Deum, quia revertentur ad me in toto corde suo.

Et sicut ficus pessimae quae comedi non possunt eo quod sint malae, haec dicit Dominus: Sic dabo Sedeciam regem Juda, et principes ejus, et reliquos de Jerusalem, qui remanserunt in urbe hac, et qui habitant in terra AEgypti.

Et dabo eos in vexationem, afflictionemque omnibus regnis terrae, in opprobrium, et in parabolam, et in proverbium, et in maledictionem in universis locis ad quae ejeci eos.

10 Et mittam in eis gladium, et famem, et pestem, donec consumantur de terra quam dedi eis et patribus eorum.

God Rejects Zedekiah’s Request

21 The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah(A) sent to him Pashhur(B) son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah(C) son of Maaseiah. They said: “Inquire(D) now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar[a](E) king of Babylon(F) is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders(G) for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.”

But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn(H) against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians[b] who are outside the wall besieging(I) you. And I will gather them inside this city. I myself will fight(J) against you with an outstretched hand(K) and a mighty arm(L) in furious anger and in great wrath. I will strike(M) down those who live in this city—both man and beast—and they will die of a terrible plague.(N) After that, declares the Lord, I will give Zedekiah(O) king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague,(P) sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon(Q) and to their enemies(R) who want to kill them.(S) He will put them to the sword;(T) he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.’(U)

“Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life(V) and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague.(W) But whoever goes out and surrenders(X) to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives.(Y) 10 I have determined to do this city harm(Z) and not good, declares the Lord. It will be given into the hands(AA) of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.’(AB)

11 “Moreover, say to the royal house(AC) of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord. 12 This is what the Lord says to you, house of David:

“‘Administer justice(AD) every morning;
    rescue from the hand of the oppressor(AE)
    the one who has been robbed,
or my wrath will break out and burn like fire(AF)
    because of the evil(AG) you have done—
    burn with no one to quench(AH) it.
13 I am against(AI) you, Jerusalem,
    you who live above this valley(AJ)
    on the rocky plateau, declares the Lord
you who say, “Who can come against us?
    Who can enter our refuge?”(AK)
14 I will punish you as your deeds(AL) deserve,
    declares the Lord.
I will kindle a fire(AM) in your forests(AN)
    that will consume everything around you.’”

Judgment Against Wicked Kings

22 This is what the Lord says: “Go down to the palace of the king(AO) of Judah and proclaim this message there: ‘Hear(AP) the word of the Lord to you, king of Judah, you who sit on David’s throne(AQ)—you, your officials and your people who come through these gates.(AR) This is what the Lord says: Do what is just(AS) and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor(AT) the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow,(AU) and do not shed innocent blood(AV) in this place. For if you are careful to carry out these commands, then kings(AW) who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this palace, riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by their officials and their people. But if you do not obey(AX) these commands, declares the Lord, I swear(AY) by myself that this palace will become a ruin.’”

For this is what the Lord says about the palace of the king of Judah:

“Though you are like Gilead(AZ) to me,
    like the summit of Lebanon,(BA)
I will surely make you like a wasteland,(BB)
    like towns not inhabited.
I will send destroyers(BC) against you,
    each man with his weapons,
and they will cut(BD) up your fine cedar beams
    and throw them into the fire.(BE)

“People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this great city?’(BF) And the answer will be: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and have worshiped and served other gods.(BG)’”

10 Do not weep for the dead(BH) king or mourn(BI) his loss;
    rather, weep bitterly for him who is exiled,
because he will never return(BJ)
    nor see his native land again.

11 For this is what the Lord says about Shallum[c](BK) son of Josiah, who succeeded his father as king of Judah but has gone from this place: “He will never return. 12 He will die(BL) in the place where they have led him captive; he will not see this land again.”

13 “Woe(BM) to him who builds(BN) his palace by unrighteousness,
    his upper rooms by injustice,
making his own people work for nothing,
    not paying(BO) them for their labor.
14 He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace(BP)
    with spacious upper rooms.’
So he makes large windows in it,
    panels it with cedar(BQ)
    and decorates it in red.(BR)

15 “Does it make you a king
    to have more and more cedar?
Did not your father have food and drink?
    He did what was right and just,(BS)
    so all went well(BT) with him.
16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy,(BU)
    and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know(BV) me?”
    declares the Lord.
17 “But your eyes and your heart
    are set only on dishonest gain,(BW)
on shedding innocent blood(BX)
    and on oppression and extortion.”(BY)

18 Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:

“They will not mourn(BZ) for him:
    ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’
They will not mourn for him:
    ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’
19 He will have the burial(CA) of a donkey—
    dragged away and thrown(CB)
    outside the gates of Jerusalem.”

20 “Go up to Lebanon and cry out,(CC)
    let your voice be heard in Bashan,(CD)
cry out from Abarim,(CE)
    for all your allies(CF) are crushed.
21 I warned you when you felt secure,(CG)
    but you said, ‘I will not listen!’
This has been your way from your youth;(CH)
    you have not obeyed(CI) me.
22 The wind(CJ) will drive all your shepherds(CK) away,
    and your allies(CL) will go into exile.
Then you will be ashamed and disgraced(CM)
    because of all your wickedness.
23 You who live in ‘Lebanon,[d](CN)
    who are nestled in cedar buildings,
how you will groan when pangs come upon you,
    pain(CO) like that of a woman in labor!

24 “As surely as I live,” declares the Lord, “even if you, Jehoiachin[e](CP) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring(CQ) on my right hand, I would still pull you off. 25 I will deliver(CR) you into the hands of those who want to kill you, those you fear—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians.[f] 26 I will hurl(CS) you and the mother(CT) who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die. 27 You will never come back to the land you long to return(CU) to.”

28 Is this man Jehoiachin(CV) a despised, broken pot,(CW)
    an object no one wants?
Why will he and his children be hurled(CX) out,
    cast into a land(CY) they do not know?
29 O land,(CZ) land, land,
    hear the word of the Lord!
30 This is what the Lord says:
“Record this man as if childless,(DA)
    a man who will not prosper(DB) in his lifetime,
for none of his offspring(DC) will prosper,
    none will sit on the throne(DD) of David
    or rule anymore in Judah.”

The Righteous Branch

23 “Woe to the shepherds(DE) who are destroying and scattering(DF) the sheep of my pasture!”(DG) declares the Lord. Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds(DH) who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock(DI) and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil(DJ) you have done,” declares the Lord. “I myself will gather the remnant(DK) of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture,(DL) where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds(DM) over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid(DN) or terrified, nor will any be missing,(DO)” declares the Lord.

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when I will raise up for David[g] a righteous Branch,(DP)
a King(DQ) who will reign(DR) wisely
    and do what is just and right(DS) in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved
    and Israel will live in safety.(DT)
This is the name(DU) by which he will be called:
    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.(DV)

“So then, the days are coming,”(DW) declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’(DX) but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.”(DY)

Lying Prophets

Concerning the prophets:

My heart(DZ) is broken within me;
    all my bones tremble.(EA)
I am like a drunken man,
    like a strong man overcome by wine,
because of the Lord
    and his holy words.(EB)
10 The land is full of adulterers;(EC)
    because of the curse[h](ED) the land lies parched
    and the pastures(EE) in the wilderness are withered.(EF)
The prophets follow an evil course
    and use their power unjustly.

11 “Both prophet and priest are godless;(EG)
    even in my temple(EH) I find their wickedness,”
declares the Lord.
12 “Therefore their path will become slippery;(EI)
    they will be banished to darkness
    and there they will fall.
I will bring disaster on them
    in the year they are punished,(EJ)
declares the Lord.

13 “Among the prophets of Samaria
    I saw this repulsive thing:
They prophesied by Baal(EK)
    and led my people Israel astray.(EL)
14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem
    I have seen something horrible:(EM)
    They commit adultery and live a lie.(EN)
They strengthen the hands of evildoers,(EO)
    so that not one of them turns from their wickedness.(EP)
They are all like Sodom(EQ) to me;
    the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”(ER)

15 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says concerning the prophets:

“I will make them eat bitter food
    and drink poisoned water,(ES)
because from the prophets of Jerusalem
    ungodliness(ET) has spread throughout the land.”

16 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Do not listen(EU) to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
    they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions(EV) from their own minds,
    not from the mouth(EW) of the Lord.
17 They keep saying(EX) to those who despise me,
    ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’(EY)
And to all who follow the stubbornness(EZ) of their hearts
    they say, ‘No harm(FA) will come to you.’
18 But which of them has stood in the council(FB) of the Lord
    to see or to hear his word?
    Who has listened and heard his word?
19 See, the storm(FC) of the Lord
    will burst out in wrath,
a whirlwind(FD) swirling down
    on the heads of the wicked.
20 The anger(FE) of the Lord will not turn back(FF)
    until he fully accomplishes
    the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
    you will understand it clearly.
21 I did not send(FG) these prophets,
    yet they have run with their message;
I did not speak to them,
    yet they have prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my council,(FH)
    they would have proclaimed(FI) my words to my people
and would have turned(FJ) them from their evil ways
    and from their evil deeds.(FK)

23 “Am I only a God nearby,(FL)
declares the Lord,
    “and not a God far away?
24 Who can hide(FM) in secret places
    so that I cannot see them?”
declares the Lord.
    “Do not I fill heaven and earth?”(FN)
declares the Lord.

25 “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies(FO) in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream!(FP) I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions(FQ) of their own minds?(FR) 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget(FS) my name, just as their ancestors forgot(FT) my name through Baal worship.(FU) 28 Let the prophet who has a dream(FV) recount the dream, but let the one who has my word(FW) speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. 29 “Is not my word like fire,”(FX) declares the Lord, “and like a hammer(FY) that breaks a rock in pieces?

30 “Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against(FZ) the prophets(GA) who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’(GB) 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,(GC)” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray(GD) with their reckless lies,(GE) yet I did not send(GF) or appoint them. They do not benefit(GG) these people in the least,” declares the Lord.

False Prophecy

33 “When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the message(GH) from the Lord?’ say to them, ‘What message? I will forsake(GI) you, declares the Lord.’ 34 If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is a message(GJ) from the Lord,’ I will punish(GK) them and their household. 35 This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’(GL) or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36 But you must not mention ‘a message from the Lord’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort(GM) the words of the living God,(GN) the Lord Almighty, our God. 37 This is what you keep saying to a prophet: ‘What is the Lord’s answer to you?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 38 Although you claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ this is what the Lord says: You used the words, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ even though I told you that you must not claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord.’ 39 Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast(GO) you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors. 40 I will bring on you everlasting disgrace(GP)—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.”

Two Baskets of Figs

24 After Jehoiachin[i](GQ) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and the officials, the skilled workers and the artisans of Judah were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Lord showed me two baskets of figs(GR) placed in front of the temple of the Lord. One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early;(GS) the other basket had very bad(GT) figs, so bad they could not be eaten.

Then the Lord asked me, “What do you see,(GU) Jeremiah?”

“Figs,” I answered. “The good ones are very good, but the bad ones are so bad they cannot be eaten.”

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent(GV) away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.[j] My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back(GW) to this land. I will build(GX) them up and not tear them down; I will plant(GY) them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know(GZ) me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people,(HA) and I will be their God, for they will return(HB) to me with all their heart.(HC)

“‘But like the bad(HD) figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the Lord, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah(HE) king of Judah, his officials(HF) and the survivors(HG) from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt.(HH) I will make them abhorrent(HI) and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword,(HJ) a curse[k](HK) and an object of ridicule, wherever I banish(HL) them. 10 I will send the sword,(HM) famine(HN) and plague(HO) against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave to them and their ancestors.(HP)’”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 21:2 Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, of which Nebuchadnezzar is a variant; here and often in Jeremiah and Ezekiel
  2. Jeremiah 21:4 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 9
  3. Jeremiah 22:11 Also called Jehoahaz
  4. Jeremiah 22:23 That is, the palace in Jerusalem (see 1 Kings 7:2)
  5. Jeremiah 22:24 Hebrew Koniah, a variant of Jehoiachin; also in verse 28
  6. Jeremiah 22:25 Or Chaldeans
  7. Jeremiah 23:5 Or up from David’s line
  8. Jeremiah 23:10 Or because of these things
  9. Jeremiah 24:1 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
  10. Jeremiah 24:5 Or Chaldeans
  11. Jeremiah 24:9 That is, their names will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that they are cursed.