1“How terrible it will be for the leaders who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh.
2So Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this about the leaders who are supposed to care for my people: "You have scattered my sheep, driven them away, and have not looked after them. Now I will punish you for the evil things you have done," says Yahweh.
3"But I will gather the remaining few of my sheep from all the countries where I have sent them, and I will bring them back to their pastures. They will have many offspring and increase in number.
4I will appoint new leaders over them who will care for them. They will no longer be afraid, dismayed, or missing anyone," says Yahweh.
5"Listen, the time is coming," says Yahweh, "when I will raise up a righteous descendant from David's line. He will reign as a king, acting wisely and bringing justice and fairness to the land.
6During his rule, Judah will be saved, and Israel will live securely. He will be known by this name: Yahweh Our Righteousness."
7"Therefore behold, the time is coming," says Yahweh, "when people will no longer say, 'As Yahweh lives, who brought the people of Israel out of Egypt;'"
8"but instead, 'As Yahweh lives, who brought and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had scattered them.' Then they will live in their own land."
9Regarding the prophets: My heart is broken within me. All my bones are shaking. I am like a drunken man, like someone overcome by wine, because of Yahweh and his holy words.
10For the land is full of people who commit adultery; because of a curse, the land mourns. The pastures in the wilderness are dry. Their conduct is evil, and their strength is used for wrong.
11Both prophets and priests are godless; yes, I have found their wickedness even in my own house," says Yahweh.
12"Therefore, their path will be like slippery ground in the darkness. They will be pushed forward and fall there, for I will bring disaster upon them, the year of their punishment," says Yahweh.
13"I have seen foolishness in the prophets of Samaria. They prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.
14In the prophets of Jerusalem also I have seen something horrible: they commit adultery and live by lies. They encourage evildoers, so that no one turns from their wickedness. To me, they have all become like Sodom, and its residents like Gomorrah."
15Therefore, Yahweh of Armies says this about the prophets: "Listen, I will feed them with bitter poisons and make them drink poisonous water, because ungodliness has spread throughout the land from the prophets of Jerusalem."
16Yahweh of Armies says, "Do not listen to what the prophets who prophesy to you say. They fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from Yahweh's mouth.
17They constantly tell those who despise me, 'Yahweh has said, "You will have peace," and to everyone who stubbornly follows their own heart, they say, 'No harm will come to you.'"
18"For who among them has stood in Yahweh's council to truly understand and hear his word? Who has paid attention to my word and heard it?"
19Watch out! Yahweh's storm, his fierce anger, has gone out—a swirling storm. It will crash down on the heads of the wicked.
20Yahweh's anger will not turn back until he has carried out and fulfilled his intentions. In the last days, you will understand this perfectly.
21"I did not send these prophets, yet they ran. I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.
22If they had stood in my council, then they would have made my people hear my words and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.
23"Am I a God only nearby," says Yahweh, "and not a God far away?
24Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" says Yahweh. "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says Yahweh.
25"I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name, saying, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!'
26How long will this go on in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy lies, the prophets who speak the deceit of their own hearts?
27They plan to make my people forget my name through the dreams they tell each other, just as their ancestors forgot my name because of Baal.
28If a prophet has a dream, let him tell the dream. But if someone has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is straw compared to wheat?” asks Yahweh.
29“Isn’t my word like fire?” asks Yahweh, “and like a hammer that shatters rock?
30“So, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who steal my words from their neighbors.
31I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who use their own words and claim, ‘He says.’
32I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” says Yahweh, “who tell them and lead my people astray with their lies and empty boasts. I did not send them or command them, and they are absolutely no help to these people,” says Yahweh.
33“When these people, or a prophet, or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the message from Yahweh?’ then you are to tell them, ‘“What message? I will abandon you,” says Yahweh.’
34As for the prophet, the priest, and the people who say, ‘The message from Yahweh,’ I will punish that person and his household.
35You should each ask your neighbor and your relative, ‘What has Yahweh answered?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh said?’
36You must no longer mention ‘the message from Yahweh,’ because each person’s own word has become his message. You have twisted the words of the living God, of Yahweh of Armies, our God.
37You are to say to the prophet, ‘What has Yahweh answered you?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh spoken?’
38Even though you say, ‘The message from Yahweh;’ therefore Yahweh says: ‘Because you say this phrase, “The message from Yahweh,” and I sent to you, telling you not to say, “The message from Yahweh;”
39therefore, I will completely forget you, and I will cast you out, along with the city that I gave to you and your ancestors, away from my presence.
40I will cause you to suffer everlasting disgrace and constant shame that will never be forgotten.’”