The Righteous Branch

23 “Woe to the shepherds^(A) who are destroying and scattering^(B) the sheep of my pasture!”^(C) declares the Lord. ² Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds^(D) who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock^(E) and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil^(F) you have done,” declares the Lord. ³ “I myself will gather the remnant^(G) of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture,^(H) where they will be fruitful and increase in number.

¹⁶ This is what the Lord Almighty says:

²⁵ “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies^(I) in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream!^(J) I had a dream!’ ²⁶ How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions^(K) of their own minds?^{(L) 27} They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget^(M) my name, just as their ancestors forgot^(N) my name through Baal worship.^{(O) 28} Let the prophet who has a dream^(P) recount the dream, but let the one who has my word^(Q) speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. ²⁹ “Is not my word like fire,”^(R) declares the Lord, “and like a hammer^(S) that breaks a rock in pieces?

³⁰ “Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against^(T) the prophets^(U) 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.’^{(V) 32} Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,^(W)” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray^(X) with their reckless lies,^(Y) yet I did not send^(Z) or appoint them. They do not benefit^(AA) 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^(AB) from the Lord?’ say to them, ‘What message? I will forsake^(AC) you, declares the Lord.’ ³⁴ If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is a message^(AD) from the Lord,’ I will punish^(AE) 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?’^(AF) 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^(AG) the words of the living God,^(AH) 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^(AI) you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors. ⁴⁰ I will bring on you everlasting disgrace^(AJ)—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.”