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.”
Ẹ̀ka òtítọ́
1“Ègbé ni fún àwọn olùṣọ́-àgùntàn tí ń tú agbo ẹran mi ká tí ó sì ń pa wọ́n run!” ni Olúwa wí. 2Nítorí náà, èyí ni ohun tí Olúwa Ọlọ́run Israẹli sọ ní ti àwọn olùṣọ́-àgùntàn tí ń darí àwọn ènìyàn mi: “Nítorí tí ẹ̀yin tú agbo ẹran mi ká, tí ẹ lé wọn dànù tí ẹ̀yin kò sì bẹ̀ wọ́n wò. Èmi yóò jẹ yín ní yà nítorí nǹkan búburú tí ẹ ti ṣe,” ni Olúwa wí. 3“Èmi Olúwa tìkára mi yóò kó ìyókù agbo ẹran mi jọ láti inú gbogbo orílẹ̀-èdè tí mo ti lé wọn, Èmi yóò mú wọn padà sínú pápá oko wọn, níbẹ̀ ni wọn ó ti bí sí i, tí wọn ó sì pọ̀ sí i. 4Èmi ó wá olùṣọ́-àgùntàn fún wọn, tí yóò darí wọn, wọn kì yóò bẹ̀rù tàbí dààmú, bẹ́ẹ̀ ni ọ̀kan kì yóò sọnù,” ni Olúwa wí.
523.5: Jr 33.15; Isa 4.2; Sk 3.8; 6.12.“Ọjọ́ ń bọ̀,” ni Olúwa wí,
“tí Èmi yóò gbé ẹ̀ka òdodo dìde fún Dafidi,
ọba tí yóò lo ìjọba pẹ̀lú ọgbọ́n
tí yóò sì ṣe òdodo àti ohun tí ó yẹ lórí ilẹ̀ náà.
6Ní ọjọ́ rẹ̀ ni a ó gba Juda là,
Israẹli yóò sì máa gbé ní aláìléwu
Èyí ni orúkọ tí a ó fi máa pè é:
Olúwa Òdodo wa.
7Nítorí náà, ọjọ́ ń bọ̀,” ni Olúwa wí, “tí ènìyàn kì yóò tún wí pé, ‘Dájúdájú Olúwa wà láààyè tí ó mú àwọn ọmọ Israẹli jáde kúrò ní ilẹ̀ Ejibiti.’ 8Ṣùgbọ́n wọn yóò máa wí pé, ‘Dájúdájú Olúwa ń bẹ tí ó mú irú-ọmọ ilé Israẹli wá láti ilẹ̀ àríwá àti láti àwọn ilẹ̀ ibi tí mo tí lé wọn lọ,’ wọn ó sì gbé inú ilẹ̀ wọn.”
Àwọn wòlíì èké
9Nípa ti àwọn wòlíì èké:
Ọkàn mi ti bàjẹ́ nínú mi,
gbogbo egungun mi ni ó wárìrì.
Èmi dàbí ọ̀mùtí ènìyàn,
bí ọkùnrin tí ọtí wáìnì ń pa;
nítorí Olúwa àti àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ mímọ́ rẹ̀.
10Ilẹ̀ náà kún fún panṣágà ènìyàn
nítorí ègún, ilẹ̀ náà gbẹ,
àwọn koríko orí aṣálẹ̀ ilẹ̀ náà rọ.
Àwọn wòlíì tẹ̀lé ọ̀nà búburú,
wọ́n sì ń lo agbára wọn lọ́nà àìtọ́.
11“Wòlíì àti àlùfáà kò gbé ìgbé ayé ìwà-bí-Ọlọ́run;
kódà nínú tẹmpili mi ni mo rí ìwà búburú wọn,”
ni Olúwa wí.
12“Nítorí náà, ọ̀nà wọn yóò di yíyọ́,
a ó lé wọn jáde sínú òkùnkùn;
níbẹ̀ ni wọn yóò ṣubú.
Èmi yóò mú ìdààmú wá sórí wọn,
ní ọdún tí a jẹ wọ́n ní ìyà,”
ni Olúwa wí.
13“Láàrín àwọn wòlíì Samaria,
Èmi rí ohun tí ń lé ni sá:
Wọ́n sọ àsọtẹ́lẹ̀ lórúkọ Baali
wọ́n sì mú Israẹli ènìyàn mi ṣìnà.
14Àti láàrín àwọn wòlíì Jerusalẹmu,
èmi ti rí ohun búburú:
Wọ́n ṣe panṣágà, wọ́n sì ń ṣèké.
Wọ́n fún àwọn olùṣe búburú ní agbára,
tó bẹ́ẹ̀ tí kò sí ẹnìkan tí ó yípadà kúrò nínú ìwà búburú rẹ̀.
Gbogbo wọn dàbí Sodomu níwájú mi,
àti àwọn ènìyàn olùgbé rẹ̀ bí Gomorra.”
15Nítorí náà, báyìí ni Olúwa Ọlọ́run Alágbára wí ní ti àwọn wòlíì:
“Èmi yóò mú wọn jẹ oúnjẹ kíkorò,
wọn yóò mu omi májèlé
nítorí láti ọ̀dọ̀ àwọn wòlíì Jerusalẹmu
ni àìwà-bí-Ọlọ́run ti tàn ká gbogbo ilẹ̀.”
16Èyí ni ohun tí Olúwa àwọn ọmọ-ogun wí:
“Ẹ má ṣe fi etí sí àsọtẹ́lẹ̀ tí àwọn wòlíì èké ń sọ fún un yín.
Wọ́n ń kún inú ọkàn yín pẹ̀lú ìrètí asán.
Wọ́n ń sọ ìran láti ọkàn ara wọn,
kì í ṣe láti ẹnu Olúwa.
17Wọ́n ń sọ fún àwọn tí ó ń gàn mí pé,
‘Olúwa ti wí pé: Ẹ ó ní àlàáfíà,’
Wọ́n sì wí fún gbogbo àwọn tí ó rìn nípa agídí ọkàn rẹ̀ pé,
‘Kò sí ìpalára kan tí yóò ṣẹlẹ̀ sí yín.’
18Ṣùgbọ́n èwo nínú wọn ni ó dúró
nínú ìgbìmọ̀ Olúwa láti rí i
tàbí gbọ́ ọ̀rọ̀ rẹ̀?
Ta ni ó gbọ́ tí ó sì fetí sí ọ̀rọ̀ náà?
19Wò ó, afẹ́fẹ́ Olúwa yóò tú jáde
pẹ̀lú ìbínú à fẹ́ yíká ìjì yóò fẹ́ sí
orí àwọn olùṣe búburú.
20Ìbínú Olúwa kì yóò yẹ̀
títí tí yóò sì fi mú èrò rẹ̀ ṣẹ,
ní àìpẹ́ ọjọ́, yóò yé e yín yékéyéké.
21Èmi kò rán àwọn wòlíì wọ̀nyí
síbẹ̀ wọ́n lọ pẹ̀lú ọ̀rọ̀ wọn.
Èmi kò tilẹ̀ bá wọn sọ̀rọ̀,
síbẹ̀ wọ́n sọ àsọtẹ́lẹ̀,
22Ṣùgbọ́n ì bà ṣe pé wọn dúró nínú ìgbìmọ̀ mi,
wọn ìbá ti kéde ọ̀rọ̀ mi fún àwọn ènìyàn mi.
Wọn ìbá ti wàásù ọ̀rọ̀ mi fun àwọn ènìyàn
wọn ìbá ti yípadà kúrò nínú ọ̀nà
àti ìṣe búburú wọn.
23“Ǹjẹ́ Ọlọ́run tòsí nìkan ni Èmi bí?”
ni Olúwa wí,
“kì í sì í ṣe Ọlọ́run ọ̀nà jíjìn.
24Ǹjẹ́ ẹnikẹ́ni lè sápamọ́ sí ibi kọ́lọ́fín kan,
kí èmi má ba a rí?”
ni Olúwa wí.
“Ǹjẹ́ èmi kò ha a kún ọ̀run àti ayé bí?”
ni Olúwa wí.
25“Mo ti gbọ́ gbogbo ohun tí àwọn wòlíì èké tí ń sọ àsọtẹ́lẹ̀ ní orúkọ mi ń sọ. Wọ́n sọ wí pé, ‘Mo lá àlá! Mo lá àlá!’ 26Títí di ìgbà wo ni èyí yóò fi máa tẹ̀síwájú ni ọkàn àwọn wòlíì èké wọ̀nyí tí wọ́n ń sọ àsọtẹ́lẹ̀ ìtànjẹ ọkàn wọn? 27Wọ́n rò wí pé àlá tí wọ́n ń sọ fún ara wọn yóò mú kí àwọn ènìyàn mi gbàgbé orúkọ mi, gẹ́gẹ́ bí àwọn baba wọn ṣe gbàgbé orúkọ mi nípa sí sin òrìṣà Baali. 28Jẹ́ kí wòlíì tí ó bá lá àlá sọ àlá rẹ̀, ṣùgbọ́n jẹ́ kí ẹni tí ó ní ọ̀rọ̀ mí sọ ọ́ ní òtítọ́. Kí ni koríko gbígbẹ ní í ṣe nínú ọkà?” ni Olúwa wí. 29“Ọ̀rọ̀ mi kò ha a dàbí iná?” ni Olúwa wí, “àti bí òòlù irin tí ń fọ́ àpáta túútúú?
30“Nítorí náà, èmi lòdì sí àwọn wòlíì ni,” Olúwa wí, “Tí ń jí ọ̀rọ̀ tí ó yẹ kí ó ti ọ̀dọ̀ mi wá lò lọ́dọ̀ ara wọn. 31Bẹ́ẹ̀” ni Olúwa wí, “Èmi lòdì sí àwọn wòlíì tí wọ́n lo ahọ́n wọn káàkiri, síbẹ̀ tí wọ́n ń sọ wí pé, ‘Olúwa wí.’ 32Nítòótọ́, mo lòdì sí àwọn tí ń sọ àsọtẹ́lẹ̀ nípa àlá èké,” ni Olúwa wí. “Wọ́n ń sọ bẹ́ẹ̀ ni wọ́n sì ń mú àwọn ènìyàn mi ṣìnà nípa onírúurú èké wọn, síbẹ̀ èmi kò rán wọn tàbí yàn wọ́n. Wọn kò sì ran àwọn ènìyàn wọ̀nyí lọ́wọ́ bí ó ti wù kí ó kéré mọ,” ni Olúwa wí.
Ọ̀rọ̀-ìjìnlẹ̀ èké àti àwọn wòlíì èké
33“Nígbà tí àwọn ènìyàn wọ̀nyí, tàbí wòlíì tàbí àlùfáà bá bi ọ́ léèrè wí pé, ‘Kí ni ọ̀rọ̀-ìjìnlẹ̀ Olúwa?’ Sọ fún wọn wí pé, ‘ọ̀rọ̀-ìjìnlẹ̀ wo? Èmi yóò pa yín tì ni Olúwa wí.’ 34Bí wòlíì tàbí àlùfáà tàbí ẹnikẹ́ni bá sì gbà wí pé, ‘Èyí ni ọ̀rọ̀-ìjìnlẹ̀ Olúwa.’ Èmi yóò fi ìyà jẹ ọkùnrin náà àti gbogbo agbo ilé rẹ̀. 35Èyí ni ohun tí ẹnìkọ̀ọ̀kan yín ń sọ fún ọ̀rẹ́ àti ará ilé rẹ̀: ‘Kí ni ìdáhùn Olúwa?’ Tàbí ‘Kí ni ohun tí Olúwa sọ?’ 36Ṣùgbọ́n ẹ̀yin kò gbọdọ̀ dárúkọ ọ̀rọ̀ ‘ìjìnlẹ̀ Olúwa’ mọ́, nítorí pé ọ̀rọ̀ oníkálùkù ènìyàn di ọ̀rọ̀-ìjìnlẹ̀ rẹ̀. Nítorí náà, ẹ̀yin ń yí ọ̀rọ̀ Ọlọ́run alààyè, Olúwa àwọn ọmọ-ogun, Ọlọ́run wa padà. 37Èyí ni ohun tí ẹ̀yin ń sọ fún wòlíì: ‘Kí ni ìdáhùn Olúwa sí ọ́?’ tàbí ‘Kí ni ohun tí Olúwa bá ọ sọ?’ 38Bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé ẹ̀yin ń sọ wí pé, ‘Èyí ni ọ̀rọ̀-ìjìnlẹ̀ Olúwa,’ èyí ni ohun tí Olúwa sọ: Ẹ̀yin ń lo ọ̀rọ̀ yìí, ‘Èyí ni ọ̀rọ̀-ìjìnlẹ̀ Olúwa,’ bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé mo sọ fún un yín láti má ṣe lò ó mọ́, ‘Èyí ni ọ̀rọ̀-ìjìnlẹ̀ Olúwa.’ 39Nítorí náà, Èmi yóò gbàgbé yín, bẹ́ẹ̀ ni n ó lé e yín kúrò níwájú mi pẹ̀lú àwọn ìlú tí mo fi fún un yín àti àwọn baba yín. 40Èmi yóò sì mú ìtìjú ayérayé wá sí orí yín, ìtìjú tí kò ní ní ìgbàgbé.”
