Jeremiah 23 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible
Jeremiah 23 (WEBP)
[1] “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh.
[2] Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says against the shepherds who feed my people: “You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and have not visited them. Behold, I will visit on you the evil of your doings,” says Yahweh.
[3] “I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they will be fruitful and multiply.
[4] I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them. They will no longer be afraid or dismayed, neither will any be lacking,” says Yahweh.
[5] “Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch; and he will reign as king and deal wisely, and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.
[6] In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely. This is his name by which he will be called: Yahweh our righteousness.
[7] “Therefore, behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that they will no more say, ‘As Yahweh lives, who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;’
[8] but, ‘As Yahweh lives, who brought up and who led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ Then they will dwell in their own land.”
[9] Concerning the prophets: My heart within me is broken. All my bones shake. I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine has overcome, because of Yahweh, and because of his holy words.
[10] “For the land is full of adulterers; for because of the curse the land mourns. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right;
[11] for both prophet and priest are profane. Yes, in my house I have found their wickedness,” says Yahweh.
[12] Therefore their way will be to them as slippery places in the darkness. They will be driven on, and fall therein; for I will bring evil on them, even the year of their visitation,” says Yahweh.
[13] “I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria. They prophesied by Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
[14] In the prophets of Jerusalem I have also seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one returns from his wickedness. They have all become to me as Sodom, and its inhabitants as Gomorrah.”
[15] Therefore Yahweh of Armies says concerning the prophets: “Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink poisoned water; for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has gone out into all the land.”
[16] Yahweh of Armies says, “Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They teach you vanity. They speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Yahweh.
[17] They say continually to those who despise me, ‘Yahweh has said, “You will have peace;” ’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart they say, ‘No evil will come on you.’
[18] For who has stood in the council of Yahweh, that he should perceive and hear his word? Who has listened to my word, and heard it?
[19] Behold, Yahweh’s storm, his wrath, has gone out. Yes, a whirling storm! It will burst on the head of the wicked.
[20] Yahweh’s anger will not return until he has executed and performed the intents of his heart. In the latter days, you will understand it perfectly.
[21] I didn’t send these prophets, yet they ran. I didn’t speak to them, yet they prophesied.
[22] But if they had stood in my council, then they would have caused my people to hear my words, and would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
[23] “Am I a God at hand,” says Yahweh, “and not a God afar off?
[24] Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I can’t see him?” says Yahweh. “Don’t I fill heaven and earth?” says Yahweh.
[25] “I have heard what the prophets have said, who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’
[26] How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, even the prophets of the deceit of their own heart?
[27] They intend to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they each tell his neighbor, as their fathers forgot my name because of Baal.
[28] The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat?” says Yahweh.
[29] “Isn’t my word like fire?” says Yahweh; “and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
[30] “Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who each steal my words from his neighbor.
[31] Behold, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who use their tongues, and say, ‘He says.’
[32] Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams,” says Yahweh, “who tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their vain boasting; yet I didn’t send them or command them. They don’t profit this people at all,” says Yahweh.
[33] “When this people, or the prophet, or a priest, asks you, saying, ‘What is the message from Yahweh?’ Then you shall tell them, ‘ “What message? I will cast you off,” says Yahweh.’
[34] As for the prophet, the priest, and the people, who say, ‘The message from Yahweh,’ I will even punish that man and his household.
[35] You will say everyone to his neighbor, and everyone to his brother, ‘What has Yahweh answered?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh said?’
[36] You will mention the message from Yahweh no more, for every man’s own word has become his message; for you have perverted the words of the living God, of Yahweh of Armies, our God.
[37] You will say to the prophet, ‘What has Yahweh answered you?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh spoken?’
[38] Although you say, ‘The message from Yahweh,’ therefore Yahweh says: ‘Because you say this word, “The message from Yahweh,” and I have sent to you, telling you not to say, “The message from Yahweh,”
[39] therefore behold, I will utterly forget you, and I will cast you off with the city that I gave to you and to your fathers, away from my presence.
[40] I will bring an everlasting reproach on you, and a perpetual shame, which will not be forgotten.’ ”
Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.
King James w/Strong’s #s
Jeremiah 23 (KJVS)
[1] Woe H1945 be unto the pastors H7462 (8802) that destroy H6 (8764) and scatter H6327 (8688) the sheep H6629 of my pasture H4830! saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068.
[2] Therefore thus saith H559 (8804) the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 against the pastors H7462 (8802) that feed H7462 (8802) my people H5971; Ye have scattered H6327 (8689) my flock H6629, and driven them away H5080 (8686), and have not visited H6485 (8804) them: behold, I will visit H6485 (8802) upon you the evil H7455 of your doings H4611, saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068.
[3] And I will gather H6908 (8762) the remnant H7611 of my flock H6629 out of all countries H776 whither I have driven H5080 (8689) them, and will bring them again H7725 (8689) to their folds H5116; and they shall be fruitful H6509 (8804) and increase H7235 (8804).
[4] And I will set up H6965 (8689) shepherds H7462 (8802) over them which shall feed H7462 (8804) them: and they shall fear H3372 (8799) no more, nor be dismayed H2865 (8735), neither shall they be lacking H6485 (8735), saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068.
[5] Behold, the days H3117 come H935 (8802), saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068, that I will raise H6965 (8689) unto David H1732 a righteous H6662 Branch H6780, and a King H4428 shall reign H4427 (8804) and prosper H7919 (8689), and shall execute H6213 (8804) judgment H4941 and justice H6666 in the earth H776.
[6] In his days H3117 Judah H3063 shall be saved H3467 (8735), and Israel H3478 shall dwell H7931 (8799) safely H983: and this [is] his name H8034 whereby he shall be called H7121 (8799), THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS H3072.
[7] Therefore, behold, the days H3117 come H935 (8802), saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068, that they shall no more say H559 (8799), The LORD H3068 liveth H2416, which brought up H5927 (8689) the children H1121 of Israel H3478 out of the land H776 of Egypt H4714;
[8] But, The LORD H3068 liveth H2416, which brought up H5927 (8689) and which led H935 (8689) the seed H2233 of the house H1004 of Israel H3478 out of the north H6828 country H776, and from all countries H776 whither I had driven H5080 (8689) them; and they shall dwell H3427 (8804) in their own land H127.
[9] Mine heart H3820 within H7130 me is broken H7665 (8738) because of the prophets H5030; all my bones H6106 shake H7363 (8804); I am like a drunken H7910 man H376, and like a man H1397 whom wine H3196 hath overcome H5674 (8804), because H6440 of the LORD H3068, and because of the words H1697 of his holiness H6944.
[10] For the land H776 is full H4390 (8804) of adulterers H5003 (8764); for because H6440 of swearing H423 the land H776 mourneth H56 (8804); the pleasant places H4999 of the wilderness H4057 are dried up H3001 (8804), and their course H4794 is evil H7451, and their force H1369 [is] not right.
[11] For both prophet H5030 and priest H3548 are profane H2610 (8804); yea, in my house H1004 have I found H4672 (8804) their wickedness H7451, saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068.
[12] Wherefore their way H1870 shall be unto them as slippery H2519 [ways] in the darkness H653: they shall be driven on H1760 (8735), and fall H5307 (8804) therein: for I will bring H935 (8686) evil H7451 upon them, [even] the year H8141 of their visitation H6486, saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068.
[13] And I have seen H7200 (8804) folly H8604 in the prophets H5030 of Samaria H8111; they prophesied H5012 (8694) in Baal H1168, and caused my people H5971 Israel H3478 to err H8582 (8686).
[14] I have seen H7200 (8804) also in the prophets H5030 of Jerusalem H3389 an horrible thing H8186: they commit adultery H5003 (8800), and walk H1980 (8800) in lies H8267: they strengthen H2388 (8765) also the hands H3027 of evildoers H7489 (8688), that none H376 doth return H7725 (8804) from his wickedness H7451: they are all of them unto me as Sodom H5467, and the inhabitants H3427 (8802) thereof as Gomorrah H6017.
[15] Therefore thus saith H559 (8804) the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 concerning the prophets H5030; Behold, I will feed H398 (8688) them with wormwood H3939, and make them drink H8248 (8689) the water H4325 of gall H7219: for from the prophets H5030 of Jerusalem H3389 is profaneness H2613 gone forth H3318 (8804) into all the land H776.
[16] Thus saith H559 (8804) the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635, Hearken H8085 (8799) not unto the words H1697 of the prophets H5030 that prophesy H5012 (8737) unto you: they make you vain H1891 (8688): they speak H1696 (8762) a vision H2377 of their own heart H3820, [and] not out of the mouth H6310 of the LORD H3068.
[17] They say H559 (8802) still H559 (8800) unto them that despise H5006 (8764) me, The LORD H3068 hath said H1696 (8765), Ye shall have peace H7965; and they say H559 (8804) unto every one that walketh H1980 (8802) after the imagination H8307 of his own heart H3820, No evil H7451 shall come H935 (8799) upon you.
[18] For who hath stood H5975 (8804) in the counsel H5475 of the LORD H3068, and hath perceived H7200 (8799) and heard H8085 (8799) his word H1697? who hath marked H7181 (8689) his word H1697, and heard H8085 (8799) [it]?
[19] Behold, a whirlwind H5591 of the LORD H3068 is gone forth H3318 (8804) in fury H2534, even a grievous H2342 (8711) whirlwind H5591: it shall fall grievously H2342 (8799) upon the head H7218 of the wicked H7563.
[20] The anger H639 of the LORD H3068 shall not return H7725 (8799), until he have executed H6213 (8800), and till he have performed H6965 (8687) the thoughts H4209 of his heart H3820: in the latter H319 days H3117 ye shall consider H995 (8709) it perfectly H998.
[21] I have not sent H7971 (8804) these prophets H5030, yet they ran H7323 (8804): I have not spoken H1696 (8765) to them, yet they prophesied H5012 (8738).
[22] But if they had stood H5975 (8804) in my counsel H5475, and had caused my people H5971 to hear H8085 (8686) my words H1697, then they should have turned H7725 (8686) them from their evil H7451 way H1870, and from the evil H7455 of their doings H4611.
[23] [Am] I a God H430 at hand H7138, saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068, and not a God H430 afar off H7350?
[24] Can any H376 hide H5641 (8735) himself in secret places H4565 that I shall not see H7200 (8799) him? saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068. Do not I fill H4392 heaven H8064 and earth H776? saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068.
[25] I have heard H8085 (8804) what the prophets H5030 said H559 (8804), that prophesy H5012 (8737) lies H8267 in my name H8034, saying H559 (8800), I have dreamed H2492 (8804), I have dreamed H2492 (8804).
[26] How long shall [this] be H3426 in the heart H3820 of the prophets H5030 that prophesy H5012 (8737) lies H8267? yea, [they are] prophets H5030 of the deceit H8649 of their own heart H3820;
[27] Which think H2803 (8802) to cause my people H5971 to forget H7911 (8687) my name H8034 by their dreams H2472 which they tell H5608 (8762) every man H376 to his neighbour H7453, as their fathers H1 have forgotten H7911 (8804) my name H8034 for Baal H1168.
[28] The prophet H5030 that hath a dream H2472, let him tell H5608 (8762) a dream H2472; and he that hath my word H1697, let him speak H1696 (8762) my word H1697 faithfully H571. What [is] the chaff H8401 to the wheat H1250? saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068.
[29] [Is] not my word H1697 like H3541 as a fire H784? saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068; and like a hammer H6360 [that] breaketh H6327 the rock H5553 in pieces H6327 (8787)?
[30] Therefore, behold, I [am] against the prophets H5030, saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068, that steal H1589 (8764) my words H1697 every one H376 from his neighbour H7453.
[31] Behold, I [am] against the prophets H5030, saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068, that use H3947 (8802) their tongues H3956, and say H5001 (8799), He saith H5002 (8803).
[32] Behold, I [am] against them that prophesy H5012 (8737) false H8267 dreams H2472, saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068, and do tell H5608 (8762) them, and cause my people H5971 to err H8582 (8686) by their lies H8267, and by their lightness H6350; yet I sent H7971 (8804) them not, nor commanded H6680 (8765) them: therefore they shall not profit H3276 (8686) this people H5971 at all H3276 (8687), saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068.
[33] And when this people H5971, or the prophet H5030, or a priest H3548, shall ask H7592 (8799) thee, saying H559 (8800), What [is] the burden H4853 of the LORD H3068? thou shalt then say H559 (8804) unto them, What burden H4853? I will even forsake H5203 (8804) you, saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068.
[34] And [as for] the prophet H5030, and the priest H3548, and the people H5971, that shall say H559 (8799), The burden H4853 of the LORD H3068, I will even punish H6485 (8804) that man H376 and his house H1004.
[35] Thus shall ye say H559 (8799) every one H376 to his neighbour H7453, and every one H376 to his brother H251, What hath the LORD H3068 answered H6030 (8804)? and, What hath the LORD H3068 spoken H1696 (8765)?
[36] And the burden H4853 of the LORD H3068 shall ye mention H2142 (8799) no more: for every man’s H376 word H1697 shall be his burden H4853; for ye have perverted H2015 (8804) the words H1697 of the living H2416 God H430, of the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 our God H430.
[37] Thus shalt thou say H559 (8799) to the prophet H5030, What hath the LORD H3068 answered H6030 (8804) thee? and, What hath the LORD H3068 spoken H1696 (8765)?
[38] But H518 since ye say H559 (8799), The burden H4853 of the LORD H3068; therefore thus saith H559 (8804) the LORD H3068; Because ye say H559 (8800) this word H1697, The burden H4853 of the LORD H3068, and I have sent H7971 (8799) unto you, saying H559 (8800), Ye shall not say H559 (8799), The burden H4853 of the LORD H3068;
[39] Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly H5377 (8800) forget H5382 (8804) you, and I will forsake H5203 (8804) you, and the city H5892 that I gave H5414 (8804) you and your fathers H1, [and cast you] out of my presence H6440:
[40] And I will bring H5414 (8804) an everlasting H5769 reproach H2781 upon you, and a perpetual H5769 shame H3640, which shall not be forgotten H7911 (8735).
Young’s Literal Translation
Jeremiah 23 (YLT)
[1] Woe to shepherds destroying, And scattering the flock of My pasture, An affirmation of Jehovah.
[2] Therefore, thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, Against the shepherds who feed My people, Ye have scattered My flock, and drive them away, And have not inspected them, Lo, I am charging on you the evil of your doings, An affirmation of Jehovah.
[3] And I do gather the remnant of My flock Out of all the lands whither I drove them, And have brought them back unto their fold, And they have been fruitful, and multiplied.
[4] And I have raised for them shepherds, And they have fed them, And they fear no more, nor are affrighted, Nor are they lacking-an affirmation of Jehovah.
[5] Lo, days are coming-an affirmation of Jehovah, And I have raised to David a righteous shoot, And a king hath reigned and acted wisely, And done judgment and righteousness in the earth.
[6] In his days is Judah saved, and Israel dwelleth confidently, And this his name that Jehovah proclaimeth him, ‘Our Righteousness.’
[7] Therefore, lo, days are coming, An affirmation of Jehovah, And they do not say any more, Jehovah liveth who brought up The sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,
[8] But-Jehovah liveth, who brought up, And who brought in, the seed of the house of Israel, From the land of the north, And from all the lands whither I drove them, And they have dwelt on their own ground!
[9] In reference to the prophets: Broken hath been my heart in my midst, Fluttered have all my bones, I have been as a man-a drunkard, And as a man-wine hath passed over him, Because of Jehovah, and of His holy words.
[10] For of adulterers hath the land been full, For because of these hath the land mourned, Dried up hath been the pleasant places of the wilderness, And their course is evil, and their might-not right.
[11] For both prophet and priest have been profane, Yea, in My house I found their wickedness, An affirmation of Jehovah.
[12] Therefore is their way to them as slippery places, Into thick darkness they are driven, And they have fallen in it, For I bring in against them evil, The year of their inspection, An affirmation of Jehovah.
[13] And in prophets of Samaria I have seen folly, They have prophesied by Baal, And cause my people-Israel-to err.
[14] And in prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing, Committing adultery, and walking falsely, Yea, they strengthened the hands of evil doers, So that they have not turned back Each from his wickedness, They have been to me-all of them-as Sodom, And its inhabitants as Gomorrah.
[15] Therefore, thus said Jehovah of Hosts, concerning the prophets: Lo, I am causing them to eat wormwood, And have caused them to drink water of gall, For, from prophets of Jerusalem Hath profanity gone forth to all the land.
[16] Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Ye do not hearken unto the words Of the prophets who are prophesying to you, They are making you vain things, A vision of their own heart they speak, Not from the mouth of Jehovah.
[17] Saying diligently to those despising The word of Jehovah: Peace is for you, And to every one walking in the stubbornness of his heart they have said: Evil doth not come in unto you.
[18] For who hath stood in the counsel of Jehovah, And seeth and heareth His word? Who hath regarded My word, and hearkeneth?
[19] Lo, a whirlwind of Jehovah- Fury hath gone out, even a piercing whirlwind, On the head of the wicked it stayeth.
[20] The anger of Jehovah doth not turn back Till His doing, and till His establishing, The thoughts of His heart, In the latter end of the days ye attend to it With understanding.
[21] I have not sent the prophets, and they have run, I have not spoken unto them, and they have prophesied.
[22] But-if they stood in My counsel, Then they cause My people to hear My words, And they turn them back from their evil way, And from the evil of their doings.
[23] A God near am I-an affirmation of Jehovah, And not a God afar off?
[24] Is any one hidden in secret places, And I see him not? an affirmation of Jehovah, Do not I fill the heavens and the earth? An affirmation of Jehovah.
[25] I have heard that which the prophets said, Who prophesy in My name falsehood, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed.’
[26] Till when is it in the heart of the prophets? The prophets of falsehood, Yea, prophets of the deceit of their heart,
[27] Who are devising to cause My people To forget My name by their dreams, That they recount each to his neighbour, As their fathers forgot my name for Baal.
[28] The prophet with whom is a dream, Let him recount the dream, And he with whom is My word, Let him truly speak My word. What-to the straw with the corn? An affirmation of Jehovah.
[29] Is it not thus? My word is as a fire, An affirmation of Jehovah. And as a hammer-it breaketh in pieces a rock.
[30] Therefore, lo, I am against the prophets, An affirmation of Jehovah, Stealing My words each from his neighbour.
[31] Lo, I am against the prophets, An affirmation of Jehovah, Who are making smooth their tongue, And they affirm-an affirmation.
[32] Lo, I am against the prophets of false dreams, An affirmation of Jehovah, And they recount them, and cause my people to err, By their falsehoods, and by their instability, And I-I have not sent them, Nor have I commanded them, And they are not at all profitable to this people, An affirmation of Jehovah.
[33] And when this people, or the prophet, Or a priest, doth ask thee, saying, What is the burden of Jehovah? Then thou hast said unto them: Ye are the burden, and I have left you, An affirmation of Jehovah.
[34] And the prophet, and the priest, and the people, That saith, The burden of Jehovah, I have seen after that man, and after his house.
[35] Thus do ye say each unto his neighbour, And each unto his brother: What hath Jehovah answered? And what hath Jehovah spoken?
[36] And the burden of Jehovah ye do not mention any more, For the burden to each is-His word, And ye have overturned the words of the living God, Jehovah of Hosts, our God.
[37] Thus dost thou say unto the prophet What hath Jehovah answered thee? And what hath Jehovah spoken?
[38] And if the burden of Jehovah ye say, Therefore thus said Jehovah: Because of your saying this word, The burden of Jehovah, And I do send unto you, saying, Ye do not say, The burden of Jehovah.
[39] Therefore, lo, I-I have taken you utterly away, And I have sent you out, And the city that I gave to you, And to your fathers, from before My face,
[40] And I have put on you reproach age-during, And shame age-during that is not forgotten!