將來的盼望
1耶和華說：「那些本應像牧人照顧羊群一樣統治我子民的人有禍了！因為他們殘害、驅散我的子民。」 2以色列的上帝耶和華這樣斥責那些統治祂子民的首領：「你們驅散我的子民，沒有照顧他們。看啊，我必因你們的惡行而懲罰你們。這是耶和華說的。 3我要把我倖存的子民從我流放他們去的各地召集起來，領他們回到故土，使他們子孫興旺。 4我要派首領照顧他們，使他們不再擔驚受怕，也不再有一人迷失。這是耶和華說的。」
5耶和華說：「看啊，時候將到，我要為大衛選立一個公義的苗裔，使他執掌王權。他必秉公行義，治國有方。 6在他掌權的日子，猶大必得拯救，以色列必國泰民安。他將被稱為『耶和華是我們的公義』。」
7耶和華說：「看啊，時候將到，那時人不再憑把以色列人帶出埃及的耶和華起誓， 8而是憑把他們從流放之地——北方和列國領回來的永活耶和華起誓。他們必在自己的國土上安居樂業。」
9論到那些先知，
我的心都碎了，
我的骨頭都顫抖。
因為耶和華和祂聖言的緣故，
我好像不勝酒力的醉漢。
10這裡到處是拜偶像的人，
他們行為邪惡，濫用權力。
大地因受咒詛而悲哀，
曠野的草場都枯乾了。
11耶和華說：「先知和祭司都不敬虔，
我甚至看見他們在我的聖殿裡行惡。
12因此，他們必被趕到黑暗中，
在濕滑的路上跌倒，
因為我必在報應的日子降災禍給他們。
這是耶和華說的。
13我看見撒瑪利亞的先知行為可憎，
他們靠巴力說預言，
引誘我的子民走入歧途。
14我也看見耶路撒冷的先知行為可惡，
他們通姦，謊話連篇，
慫恿惡人，
以致無人悔過自新。
在我眼中，耶路撒冷人就像 所多瑪人和蛾摩拉人一樣敗壞。
15因此，論到這些先知，
萬軍之耶和華說，
『看啊，我要使他們吃苦艾，
喝毒藥，因為褻瀆之風從耶路撒冷的先知那裡蔓延，
遍及全境。』」
16萬軍之耶和華對祂的子民說：「你們不要聽信這些先知的預言，他們使你們充滿虛假的盼望，他們的預言是自己編的，不是耶和華說的。 17他們不斷對藐視我的人說，『耶和華說你們必安享太平。』他們對那些執迷不悟的人說，『災禍不會降到你們身上。』
18「然而，他們誰曾站在耶和華面前看見並聽見祂說話呢？
他們誰曾留心聽祂的話呢？
19看啊，耶和華的怒氣像暴風一樣襲來，
像旋風一樣吹到惡人頭上。
20耶和華不完成祂心中的計劃決不息怒。
將來你們會清楚地明白這一切。
21「我沒有差遣這些先知，
他們卻妄自行動；
我沒有對他們說話，
他們卻亂發預言。
22他們若曾站在我面前聽我說話，
早就向我的子民宣告我的話，
使他們改邪歸正了。」
23耶和華說：「我是無處不在的上帝。」 24耶和華說：「難道人藏起來我就看不見了嗎？我豈不是充滿天地之間嗎？這是耶和華說的。 25我聽見假先知奉我的名說，『上帝託夢給我了！上帝託夢給我了！』 26這些先知謊話連篇，憑空預言要到何時呢？ 27他們彼此傳講所做的夢，想藉此使我的子民忘記我，正如他們的祖先因祭拜巴力而忘記了我。 28讓做夢的先知儘管宣揚他們的夢吧，但得到我話語的先知要忠心地傳達我的話。糠秕怎能與麥子相比呢！這是耶和華說的。」 29耶和華說：「難道我的話不像火嗎？不像擊碎岩石的鐵錘嗎？」 30耶和華說：「看啊，我要對付那些假先知，他們盜用同夥的話，卻妄稱是我的話。」 31耶和華說：「看啊，我要對付那些假先知，他們妄自說預言，卻謊稱是耶和華的話。」 32耶和華說：「看啊，我要對付那些假先知，他們謊稱我託夢給他們，四處宣揚，用彌天大謊把我的子民引入歧途。其實我並沒有差遣他們，也沒有委派他們，他們對我的子民毫無益處。這是耶和華說的。」
33耶和華說：「耶利米啊，如果有百姓、先知或祭司問你，『耶和華有什麼啟示？』你要對他們說，『你們就是耶和華的重擔23·33 「重擔」希伯來文也有「啟示」的意思。，耶和華說要丟棄你們。』 34如果有先知、祭司或百姓宣稱有耶和華的啟示，我必懲罰他和他全家。 35你們各人要問自己的親友，『耶和華有什麼答覆？』或『耶和華說了什麼？』 36你們不可再說有耶和華的啟示，因為你們把自己的話當成祂的啟示，曲解你們永活的上帝——萬軍之耶和華的話。 37耶利米啊，你要這樣問先知，『耶和華有什麼答覆？耶和華說了什麼？』 38如果他們說，『這是耶和華的啟示。』你就說，『耶和華說，你們無視我的警告，宣稱有我的啟示， 39我必徹底忘記你們，把你們和我賜給你們及你們祖先的城邑拋棄。 40我要使你們永遠蒙羞受辱、遺臭萬年。』」
The Godly Branch
1“How terrible it will be for the shepherds who lead my people astray!” announces the Lord. “They are destroying and scattering the sheep that belong to my flock.” 2So the Lord, the God of Israel, speaks to the shepherds who take care of my people. He tells them, “You have scattered my sheep. You have driven them away. You have not taken good care of them. So I will punish you for the evil things you have done,” announces the Lord. 3“I myself will gather together those who are left alive in my flock. I will gather them out of all the countries where I have driven them. And I will bring them back to their own land. There my sheep will have many lambs. There will be many more of them. 4I will place shepherds over them who will take good care of them. My sheep will not be afraid or terrified anymore. And none of them will be missing,” announces the Lord.
5“A new day is coming,” announces the Lord.
“At that time I will raise up for David’s royal line
a godly Branch.
He will be a King who will rule wisely.
He will do what is fair and right in the land.
6In his days Judah will be saved.
Israel will live in safety.
And the Branch will be called
The Lord Who Makes Us Right With Himself.
7Other days are also coming,” announces the Lord. “At that time people will no longer say, ‘The Lord brought the Israelites up out of Egypt. And that’s just as sure as he is alive.’ 8Instead, they will say, ‘The Lord brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north. He gathered them out of all the countries where he had forced them to go. And that’s just as sure as he is alive.’ Then they will live in their own land.”
Prophets Who Tell Lies
9Here is my message about the prophets.
My heart is broken inside me.
All my bones tremble with fear.
I am like a man who is drunk.
I am like a strong man who has had too much wine.
That’s what the Lord’s holy words
have done to me.
10The land is full of people
who aren’t faithful to the Lord.
Now the land is under his curse.
And that’s why it is thirsty for water.
That’s why the desert grasslands are dry.
The prophets are leading sinful lives.
They don’t use their power in the right way.
11“Prophets and priests alike are ungodly,”
announces the Lord.
“Even in my temple I find them sinning.
12So their path will become slippery.
They will be thrown out into darkness.
There they will fall.
I will bring trouble on them
when the time to punish them comes,”
announces the Lord.
13“Among the prophets of Samaria
I saw something I can’t stand.
They were prophesying in the name of Baal.
They were leading my people Israel astray.
14I have also seen something horrible among Jerusalem’s prophets.
They are not faithful to me.
They are not living by the truth.
They strengthen the hands of those who do evil.
So not one of them turns from their sinful ways.
All of them are like the people of Sodom to me.
They are just like the people of Gomorrah.”
15So the Lord who rules over all speaks about the prophets. He says,
“I will make them eat bitter food.
I will make them drink poisoned water.
The prophets of Jerusalem have spread
their ungodly ways all through the land.”
16The Lord who rules over all says to the people of Judah,
“Do not listen to what the prophets are saying to you.
They fill you with false hopes.
They talk about visions that come from their own minds.
What they say does not come from my mouth.
17They keep speaking to those who hate me. They say,
‘The Lord says you will have peace.’
They speak to all those who do
what their stubborn hearts want them to do.
They tell them, ‘No harm will come to you.’
18But which of them has ever stood in my courts?
Have they been there to see a vision or hear my message?
Who has listened and heard my message there?
19A storm will burst out
because of my great anger.
A windstorm will sweep down
on the heads of sinful people.
20My anger will not turn back.
I will accomplish everything
I plan to do.
In days to come
you will understand it clearly.
21I did not send these prophets.
But they have run to tell you their message anyway.
I did not speak to them.
But they have still prophesied.
22Suppose they had stood in my courts.
Then they would have announced my message to my people.
They would have turned my people from their evil ways.
They would have turned them away from their sins.
23“Am I only a God who is nearby?”
announces the Lord.
“Am I not a God who is also far away?
24Who can hide in secret places
so that I can’t see them?”
announces the Lord.
“Don’t I fill heaven and earth?”
announces the Lord.
25“I have heard what the prophets are saying. They prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! The Lord has given me a dream!’ 26How long will that continue in the hearts of these prophets who tell lies? They try to get others to believe their own mistaken ideas. 27They tell one another their dreams. They think that will make my people forget my name. In the same way, their people of long ago forgot my name when they worshiped Baal. 28Let the prophet who has a dream describe the dream. But let the one who has my message speak it faithfully. Your prophets have given you straw to eat instead of grain,” announces the Lord. 29“My message is like fire,” announces the Lord. “It is like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces.
30“So I am against these prophets,” announces the Lord. “I am against those who steal messages from one another. They claim that the messages come from me. 31Yes,” announces the Lord. “I am against the prophets who speak their own words. But they still say, ‘Here is what the Lord says.’ 32I am against prophets who talk about dreams that did not come from me,” announces the Lord. “They tell foolish lies. Their lies lead my people astray. But I did not send these prophets. I did not appoint them. They do not help my people in the least,” announces the Lord.
Prophets Who Give Messages That Are Not From the Lord
33“Jeremiah, these people might ask you a question. Or a prophet or priest might do this. They might ask, ‘What message have you received from the Lord?’ Then tell them, ‘You ask, “What message?” Here it is. “I will desert you,” announces the Lord.’ 34A prophet or priest might make a claim. Or someone else might do this. He might claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord.’ Then I will punish them and their family. 35Here is what each of you people keeps on saying to your friends and other Israelites. You ask, ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ Or you ask, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36But you must not talk about ‘a message from the Lord’ again. That’s because each person’s own words become their message. And so you twist the Lord’s words. He is the living God. He is the Lord who rules over all. And he is our God. 37Here is what you keep saying to a prophet. You ask, ‘What is the Lord’s answer to you?’ Or you ask, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 38You claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord.’ But here is what the Lord says. ‘You used the words, “This is a message from the Lord.” But I told you that you must not claim, “This is a message from the Lord.” ’ 39So you can be sure I will forget you. I will throw you out of my sight. I will also destroy the city I gave you and your people of long ago. 40I will bring on you shame that will last forever. It will never be forgotten.”
