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25 I have heard the prophets who prophesy lies in my name say, “I had a dream! I had a dream!” 26 How long? Will the hearts of the prophets who prophesy lies and their own deceitful fancies ever turn back? 27 By the dreams they tell each other, they plan to make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal.(A) 28 Let the prophets who have dreams tell their dreams; let those who have my word speak my word truthfully!

What has straw to do with wheat?[a]
    —oracle of the Lord.(B)
29 Is not my word like fire—oracle of the Lord
    like a hammer shattering rock?

30 Therefore I am against the prophets—oracle of the Lord—those who steal my words from each other.(C) 31 Yes, I am against the prophets—oracle of the Lord—those who compose their own speeches and call them oracles. 32 Yes, I am against the prophets who tell lying dreams—oracle of the Lord—those who lead my people astray by recounting their reckless lies. It was not I who sent them or commanded them; they do this people no good at all—oracle of the Lord.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 23:28–29 Straw…wheat: a contrast between false and true prophecy. True prophecy is also like fire (cf. 5:14; 20:9), producing violent results (v. 29); Jeremiah’s own life is a testimony of this.

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

30 “Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against(L) the prophets(M) 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.’(N) 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,(O)” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray(P) with their reckless lies,(Q) yet I did not send(R) or appoint them. They do not benefit(S) these people in the least,” declares the Lord.

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