Jeremiah 23

1 “Woe [a cry of sorrow, a lament] to the shepherds [leaders, caregivers] who destroy [cause to perish, ruin] and scatter [disperse, shatter] the sheep [God’s people, the flock] of My pasture [my land, my care]!” declares [utters, speaks] the LORD [Yehovah, the sovereign God]. word study 2 Therefore [in this manner, thus] this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants], says about the shepherds [those who care for or tend to someone or something] who tend [care for, feed] My people [the nation of Israel, a people or nation]: “You have scattered [to shatter, break into pieces] My flock [a flock of sheep or goats, people in a figurative sense] and driven them away [to banish, expel], and have not attended to [visited, overseen] them. Behold [look, see], I will attend to [visit, oversee] you for the evil [bad, morally wrong] of your deeds [acts, practices], declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. word study 3 Then I Myself [the Lord, personally] will gather [collect, assemble] the remnant [what is left, a surviving group] of My flock [sheep, people of God] from all [every, the whole] the lands [countries, territories] to which I have banished [driven away, expelled] them, and I will return [bring back, restore] them to their pasture [dwelling place, fold], where they will be fruitful [produce, thrive] and multiply [increase, grow]. word study 4 I will raise up [set up, appoint] shepherds [pastors, leaders] over them who will tend [feed, care for] them, and they will no longer [not again, still] be afraid [fear, revere] or dismayed [completely broken, shattered], nor will any [none, not one] go missing [be lacking, be lost], declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah]. word study 5 Behold [look, see], the days [a period of time, an era] are coming, declares the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], when I will raise up [establish, cause to stand] for David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] a righteous [just, upright] Branch [a sprout, a new growth], and He will reign [rule, govern] wisely [with prudence, circumspectly] as King [a monarch, a ruler] and will administer [execute, carry out] justice [judgment, righteousness] and righteousness [virtue, morality] in the land [the earth, a country]. word study 6 In His days [times of divine presence, era of God’s rule] Judah [the tribe, the southern kingdom] will be saved [rescued, delivered from danger], and Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s people] will dwell [live, reside] securely [in safety, without fear, confidently]. And this is His name [identity, character] by which He will be called [known, invoked]: The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] Our Righteousness [justice, moral integrity, vindication]. word study 7 So behold [look, see], the days [a period of time, an era] are coming, declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], when they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD [the living God, who is alive] lives [has life, is alive], who brought [led, guided] the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob] up out of the land [the earth, the ground] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa].’ word study 8 Instead they will say, ‘As surely as the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] lives, who brought [led forth, guided] and led [directed, guided] the descendants [seed, offspring] of the house of Israel [the people of God] up out of the land [territory, region] of the north [Zaphon, the northern direction] and all [every, the whole] the other lands [countries, territories] to which He had banished [driven, expelled] them.’ Then they will dwell [reside, settle] once more in their own land [inheritance, territory].” word study 9 As for the prophets [messengers of God, spokespersons]: My heart [inner being, emotions, and intellect] is broken [shattered, deeply distressed] within me, and all my bones [entire body, physical and emotional] tremble [shake, quiver]. I have become like a drunkard [intoxicated, staggering], like a man [a person, an individual] overcome by wine [intoxicated, disoriented], because of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], because of His holy [set apart, sacred] words [divine messages, prophetic utterances]. word study 10 For the land [country, territory] is full of adulterers [those who are unfaithful, commit idolatry]— because of the curse [a divine judgment, oath], the land [earth, ground] mourns [is in a state of lamentation, grief] and the pastures [habitations, pleasant places] of the wilderness [desert, open field] have dried up [withered, become barren]— their course [way of life, manner] is evil [bad, morally wrong] and their power [might, strength] is misused [not right, unjust]. word study 11 “For [because of this reason] both prophet [one who speaks for God] and priest [a person who serves God and leads others in worship] are ungodly [profane, defiled]; even in My house [My temple, My dwelling place] I have found [discovered, seen] their wickedness [evil, moral corruption],” declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. word study 12 “Therefore [thus, in this manner] their path [way, journey, manner of life] will become slick [smooth, slippery, like flattery]; they will be driven away [thrust, pushed, chased] into the darkness [gloom, a state of spiritual or emotional gloom] and fall [be defeated, fail, stumble] into it. For [because, since] I will bring disaster [evil, calamity, punishment] upon them [on, above, against] in the year [a period of time, a season] of their punishment [visitation, reckoning, judgment],” declares [says, utters, proclaims] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 13 “Among the prophets [false spokesmen, claiming to speak for God] of Samaria [watch mountain, a region in northern Palestine] I saw [perceived, looked upon] an offensive thing [folly, foolish behavior]: They prophesied [spoke under the influence of the divine spirit, but falsely] by Baal [the Phoenician deity, a false god] and led [caused to err, deceived] My people [nation] Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen nation] astray [to go astray, wander morally]. word study 14 And among the prophets [speakers for God, messengers] of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing [something that inspires horror or fear]: They commit adultery [unfaithfulness, spiritual idolatry] and walk in lies [deception, falsehood]. They strengthen [encourage, support] the hands of evildoers [those who do wickedness, moral wrong], so that no one turns his back on wickedness [moral badness, evil]. They are all like Sodom [a city of corruption, sin] to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah [a city of judgment, destruction].” word study 15 Therefore [in this manner, thus] this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces] says concerning the prophets [spokespersons for God, false messengers]: “I will feed them wormwood [a bitter plant] and give them poisoned water [water of gall, a harmful substance] to drink, for from the prophets [false teachers, ungodly messengers] of Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Judah] ungodliness [profaneness, wickedness] has spread throughout the land [the earth, the territory].” word study 16 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, a large group of people or things] says: “Do not [in no way, never] listen to the words [messages, teachings] of the prophets [those who speak for God, spokespersons] who prophesy [speak or sing under the influence of the divine spirit] to you. They are filling you with [instilling in you, causing you to have] false hopes [vain, empty, or meaningless expectations]. They speak [communicate, utter] visions [revelations, dreams, or prophetic messages] from their own minds [hearts, thoughts, or intellects], not from the mouth [lip, edge, or side] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. word study 17 They keep saying [continually, habitually] to those who despise [reject, scorn] Me, ‘The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says that you will have [experience, enjoy] peace [shalom, completeness, wellness],’ and to everyone who walks [follows, lives] in the stubbornness [hard-heartedness, refusal to listen] of his own heart [mind, will, emotions], ‘No [absence of, none] harm [evil, adversity] will come [happen, occur] to you [upon you, against you].’ word study 18 But which of them has stood [attended, been present] in the council [secret, intimate conversation] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] to see [perceive, understand] and hear [listen, obey] His word [message, command]? Who has given heed [marked, considered] to His word [message, instruction] and obeyed [listened, followed] it? word study 19 Behold [look, see], the storm [tempest, whirlwind] of the LORD [Yehovah, God] has gone out [come forth] with fury [intense anger, rage], a whirlwind [twisting] swirling down [bursting, falling] upon the heads [the topmost part of the body] of the wicked [morally wrong, sinful]. word study 20 The anger [wrath, fierce indignation] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] will not turn back [return, be reversed] until He has fully accomplished [executed, carried out] the purposes [thoughts, plans] of His heart [mind, inner being]. In the days [latter days, future time] to come you will understand [discern, comprehend] this clearly [perfectly, with full knowledge]. word study 21 I did [not at all, never] not send these prophets [messengers of God, spokesmen], yet they have run [rushed, hastened] with their message [prophecies, declarations]; I did [not at all, never] not speak to them [communicate, utter], yet they have prophesied [spoken under divine influence, foretold]. word study 22 But if they had stood [attended, been present in] in My council, they would have proclaimed [declared, caused to hear] My words [messages, instructions] to My people [nation, community] and turned them back [caused to return, turned away] from their evil [bad, wicked] ways [path, manner of life] and deeds [actions, practices].” word study 23 “Am I only a God [at hand] nearby,” declares the LORD [Yehovah], “and not a God [who operates widely, afar off] far away [at a distance, in a distant place]?” word study 24 “Can a man [any person, human being] hide [conceal himself, be hidden] in secret places [hidden locations, secret spots] where I [the all-seeing God] cannot see [perceive, observe] him?” declares [says, speaks] the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. “Do I not [is it not true that I] fill [occupy, pervade] the heavens [the sky, the spiritual realm] and the earth [the land, the physical world]?” declares [says, speaks] the LORD [the sovereign God]. word study 25 “I have heard [with attention and obedience] the sayings of the prophets [who speak for God] who prophesy [speak under the influence of the divine spirit] lies [deception, falsehood] in My name [fame, renown, reputation]: ‘I had a dream [a vision from God, a prophetic message]! I had a dream [a revelation, a message from the divine]!’ word study 26 How long [till when, for how much longer] will this continue [persist, go on] in the hearts [minds, inner beings] of these prophets [spokesmen for God, false seers] who prophesy [speak under divine influence, utter] falsehood [lies, deception], these prophets [messengers, speakers] of the delusion [deceit, treachery] of their own minds [thoughts, intellect]? word study 27 They suppose [intend, plan] the dreams [visions, prophetic messages] that they tell one another [share, recount] will make My people [nation, community] forget [be oblivious to, neglect] My name [identity, reputation], just as their fathers [ancestors, forefathers] forgot [disregarded, ignored] My name [honor, character] through the worship [idolatry, false devotion] of Baal [a false god, a pagan deity]. word study 28 Let the prophet [one who speaks for God, a spokesperson] who has a dream [a vision or prophetic message] retell it, but let him who has My word [My message, divine utterance] speak it truthfully [faithfully, with integrity]. For what [how, in what way] is straw [chaff, worthless material] compared to grain [wheat, valuable harvest]?” declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. word study 29 “Is not My word [like a refining flame, burning away impurities] like fire,” declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “and like a hammer [used for shaping or breaking] that smashes [breaks into pieces, shatters] a rock [a craggy cliff, a strong and secure place]?” word study 30 “Therefore behold [look, pay attention to this],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “I am against [opposed to, standing in judgment of] the prophets [those who speak for God, true and false messengers] who steal [take secretly, plagiarize] from one another [each from his neighbor, companion, or friend] words [messages, declarations, or utterances] they attribute to Me [claiming to be from Me, speaking in My name].” word study 31 “Yes,” declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “I am against the prophets [false spokespersons for God] who wag their own tongues [use their language to deceive] and proclaim, ‘The LORD [the supreme God] declares it [an utterance from God, a divine message].’” word study 32 “Indeed [look, behold],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], “I am against those who prophesy [speak under divine influence] false dreams [deceptive visions, lying prophecies] and retell them [recount, give out] to lead My people [My nation, My community] astray [into error, away from the truth] with their reckless lies [frivolous, extravagant deceptions, vain boasting]. It was not I [I did not] who sent them [appointed, commanded] or commanded them [gave orders, instructed], and they are of no benefit [not profitable, unvaluable] at all to these people [this nation, this community],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 33 “Now when this people [or nation, the community of Israel] or a prophet [one who speaks for God, a spokesperson] or priest [a spiritual leader, mediator between God and man] asks you, ‘What is the burden [message, oracle, or prophecy] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]?’ you are to say to them, ‘What burden [message, or prophecy]? I will forsake [leave, abandon, or reject] you, declares the LORD [the supreme authority, God].’ word study 34 As for the prophet [or spokesperson for God] or priest [who serves God and leads others in worship] or anyone who claims, ‘This is the burden [message from God, prophecy] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God],’ I will punish [visit or oversee, often implying judgment] that man [a male person or individual] and his household [family or dwelling place]. word study 35 This is what [thus, in this manner] each man [individual, person] is to say [speak, communicate] to his friend [neighbor, companion] and to his brother [close relative, fellow]: ‘What [how, in what way] has the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] answered [responded, given a reply]?’ or ‘What [how, in what way] has the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] spoken [communicated, given a message]?’ word study 36 But refer no more [stop mentioning, do not speak of] to the burden [message, prophecy, or oracle] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], for each man’s word [own message, prophecy, or idea] becomes the burden [his own message, prophecy, or idea], so that you pervert [twist, distort, or overturn] the words [messages, prophecies, or teachings] of the living [alive, having life] God [Elohim, the one supreme God], the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, or heavenly forces], our God [the God of our covenant, the God we worship]. word study 37 Thus [in this manner, at this time] you are to say [speak, command, proclaim] to the prophet [someone who speaks for God, a spokesperson]: ‘What [in what way, how] has the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] answered [responded, given an answer] you?’ and ‘What [what message, what truth] has the LORD [the supreme God, the ruler of all] spoken [communicated, declared]?’ word study 38 But if you claim [assert, declare], ‘This is the burden [message, prophecy] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God],’ then this is what the LORD [the sovereign God] says: Because you have said [spoken, uttered], ‘This is the burden [oracle, revelation] of the LORD,’ and I specifically told [instructed, commanded] you not to make [utter, proclaim] this claim [declaration, assertion], word study 39 therefore [thus, in this manner] I will surely [utterly, completely] forget [neglect, disregard] you and will cast [throw away, reject] you out of My presence [from before My face], both you and the city [town, settlement] that I gave [bestowed, granted] to you and your fathers [ancestors, forefathers]. word study 40 And I will bring upon you everlasting [perpetual] shame [reproach, disgrace] and perpetual [unending] humiliation [shame, ignominy] that will never [not ever, at no time] be forgotten [misremembered, lost to memory].” word study