Jeremiah · Bible in Basic English
Jeremiah 23 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 A curse is on the keepers who are causing the destruction and loss of the sheep of my field, says the Lord.
1 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh.
2 So this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has said against the keepers who have the care of my people: You have let my flock be broken up, driving them away and not caring for them; see, I will send on you the punishment for the evil of your doings, says the Lord.
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 And I will get the rest of my flock together from all the countries where I have sent them, and will make them come back again to their resting-place; and they will have offspring and be increased.
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 And I will put over them keepers who will take care of them: never again will they be overcome with fear or be troubled, and there will not be the loss of one of them, says the Lord.
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 See, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will give to David a true Branch, and he will be ruling as king, acting wisely, doing what is right, and judging uprightly in the land.
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 have salvation and Israel will be living without fear: and this is the name by which he will be named, The Lord is our righteousness.
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 And so, truly, the days are coming when they will say no longer, By the living Lord, who took the children of Israel up out of the land of Egypt;
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, By the living Lord, who took up the seed of Israel, and made them come out of the north country, and from all the countries where I had sent them; and they will be living in the land which is theirs.
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 About the prophets. My heart is broken in me, all my bones are shaking; I am like a man full of strong drink, like a man overcome by wine; because of the Lord, and because of his holy words.
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 men who are untrue to their wives; because of the curse the land is full of grief; the green fields of the waste land have become dry; and they are quick to do evil, their strength is for what is not right.
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 the prophet as well as the priest is unclean; even in my house I have seen their evil-doing, says the Lord.
11 for both prophet and priest are profane. Yes, in my house I have found their wickedness,” says Yahweh.
12 For this cause their steps will be slipping on their way: they will be forced on into the dark and have a fall there: for I will send evil on them in the year of their punishment, says the Lord.
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 And I have seen ways without sense in the prophets of Samaria; they became prophets of the Baal, causing my people Israel to go wrong.
13 “I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria. They prophesied by Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
14 And in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a shocking thing; they are untrue to their wives, walking in deceit, and they make strong the hands of evil-doers, so that a man may not be turned back from his evil-doing: they have all become like Sodom to me, and its people like Gomorrah.
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 So this is what the Lord of armies has said about the prophets: See, I will give them a bitter plant for their food, and bitter water for their drink: for from the prophets of Jerusalem unclean behaviour has gone out into all the land.
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 This is what the Lord of armies has said: Do not give ear to the words which the prophets say to you: they give you teaching of no value: it is from themselves that their vision comes, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.
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 keep on saying to those who have no respect for the word of the Lord, You will have peace; and to everyone who goes on his way in the pride of his heart, they say, No evil will come to you.
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 which of them has knowledge of the secret of the Lord, and has seen him, and given ear to his word? which of them has taken note of his word and given attention to it?
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 See, the storm-wind of the Lord, even the heat of his wrath, has gone out, a rolling storm, bursting on the heads of the evil-doers.
19 Behold, Yahweh’s storm, his wrath, has gone out. Yes, a whirling storm! It will burst on the head of the wicked.
20 The wrath of the Lord will not be turned back till he has done, till he has put into effect, the purposes of his heart: in days to come you will have full knowledge of this.
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 did not send these prophets, but they went running: I said nothing to them, but they gave out the prophet's word.
21 I didn’t send these prophets, yet they ran. I didn’t speak to them, yet they prophesied.
22 But if they had been in my secret, then they would have made my people give ear to my words, turning them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
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 only a God who is near, says the Lord, and not a God at a distance?
23 “Am I a God at hand,” says Yahweh, “and not a God afar off?
24 In what secret place may a man take cover without my seeing him? says the Lord. Is there any place in heaven or earth where I am not? says the Lord.
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 My ears have been open to what the prophets have said, who say false words in my name, saying, I have had a dream, I have had a dream, I have had a dream,
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 Is (my word) in the hearts of the prophets who give out false words, even the prophets of the deceit of their hearts?
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 Whose purpose is to take away the memory of my name from my people by their dreams, of which every man is talking to his neighbour, as their fathers gave up the memory of my name for the Baal.
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 If a prophet has a dream, let him give out his dream; and he who has my word, let him give out my word in good faith. What has the dry stem to do with the grain? says the Lord.
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 Is not my word like fire? says the Lord; and like a hammer, smashing the rock to bits?
29 “Isn’t my word like fire?” says Yahweh; “and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
30 For this cause I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who take my words, every one from his neighbour.
30 “Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who each steal my words from his neighbor.
31 See, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who let their tongues say, He has said.
31 Behold, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who use their tongues, and say, ‘He says.’
32 See, I am against the prophets of false dreams, says the Lord, who give them out and make my people go out of the way by their deceit and their uncontrolled words: but I did not send them or give them orders; and they will be of no profit to this people, says the Lord.
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 And if this people, or the prophet, or a priest, questioning you, says, What word of weight is there from the Lord? then you are to say to them, You are the word, for I will not be troubled with you any more, says the Lord.
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 And as for the prophet and the priest and the people who say, A word of weight from the Lord! I will send punishment on that man and on his house.
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 But this is what you are to say, every man to his neighbour and every man to his brother, What answer has the Lord given? and, What has the Lord said?
35 You will say everyone to his neighbor, and everyone to his brother, ‘What has Yahweh answered?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh said?’
36 And you will no longer put people in mind of the word of weight of the Lord: for every man's word will be a weight on himself; for the words of the living God, of the Lord of armies, our God, have been twisted by you.
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 This is what you are to say to the prophet, What answer has the Lord given to you? and, What has the Lord said?
37 You will say to the prophet, ‘What has Yahweh answered you?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh spoken?’
38 But if you say, The word of weight of the Lord; this is what the Lord has said: Because you say, The weight of the Lord, and I have sent to you, saying, You are not to say, The weight of the Lord;
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 For this reason, truly, I will put you completely out of my memory, and I will put you, and the town which I gave to you and to your fathers, away from before my face:
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 And I will give you a name without honour for ever, and unending shame which will never go from the memory of men.
40 I will bring an everlasting reproach on you, and a perpetual shame, which will not be forgotten.’”
Cross references (39)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Jeremiah 10:21; Zechariah 11:15–17; Ezekiel 34:2–10; Ezekiel 13:3; Matthew 9:36
- 2 Jeremiah 21:12; Micah 7:4; Exodus 32:34; Jeremiah 23:34; Jeremiah 5:29
- 3 Amos 9:14–15; Jeremiah 32:37; Isaiah 43:5–6; Jeremiah 29:14; Jeremiah 30:3
- 4 Jeremiah 3:14–15; 1 Peter 1:5; Acts 20:28–29; John 10:27–30; Jeremiah 46:27–28
- 5 Luke 1:32–33; Isaiah 4:2; Isaiah 52:13; Isaiah 9:7; Zechariah 6:12–13
- 6 1 Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 3:9; Jeremiah 33:16; Matthew 1:21–23; Isaiah 7:14
- 7 Jeremiah 16:14–15; Jeremiah 23:3; Isaiah 43:18–19; Jeremiah 31:31–34
- 8 Amos 9:14–15; Isaiah 43:5–6; Ezekiel 34:13; Ezekiel 39:28; Zephaniah 3:20
- 9 Habakkuk 3:16; Lamentations 3:15; Isaiah 51:21; Daniel 8:27; Psalm 60:3
- 10 Psalm 107:34; Hosea 4:2–3; Jeremiah 5:7–8; Jeremiah 9:2; Jeremiah 9:10
- 11 Jeremiah 6:13; Zephaniah 3:4; Matthew 21:12–13; Jeremiah 32:34; Ezekiel 23:39
- 12 Jeremiah 13:16; Psalm 35:6; Jeremiah 11:23; Proverbs 4:19; John 12:35
- 13 Jeremiah 2:8; Isaiah 9:16; Hosea 9:7–8; 1 Kings 18:18–21; 2 Chronicles 33:9
- 14 Jeremiah 29:23; Isaiah 1:9–10; Ezekiel 22:25; Genesis 18:20; Jeremiah 14:14
- 15 Jeremiah 8:14; Jeremiah 9:15; Lamentations 3:15; Psalm 69:21; Lamentations 3:5
- 16 Jeremiah 14:14; Ezekiel 13:6; 2 Corinthians 11:13–15; Galatians 1:8–9; Jeremiah 27:9–10
- 17 Micah 3:11; Jeremiah 13:10; Amos 9:10; Deuteronomy 29:19; Jeremiah 5:12
- 18 Jeremiah 23:22; Psalm 25:14; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Amos 3:7; John 15:15
- 19 Jeremiah 30:23; Jeremiah 25:32; Amos 1:14; Isaiah 21:1; Proverbs 10:25
- 20 Jeremiah 30:24; Isaiah 55:11; Genesis 49:1; Proverbs 21:30; Zechariah 1:6
- 21 Jeremiah 14:14; Jeremiah 27:15; Jeremiah 23:32; Jeremiah 29:31; Jeremiah 28:15
- 22 Zechariah 1:4; Jeremiah 23:18; Jeremiah 25:5; Ezekiel 13:22; Jeremiah 35:15
- 23 Psalm 139:1–10; Jonah 1:3–4; Ezekiel 20:32–35; Psalm 113:5; 1 Kings 20:23
- 24 Proverbs 15:3; Psalm 139:7; Psalm 90:8; Isaiah 29:15; Amos 9:2–3
- 25 Jeremiah 23:32; Joel 2:28; Jeremiah 29:8; Jeremiah 23:28; Numbers 12:6
- 26 1 Timothy 4:1–2; Jeremiah 14:14; 2 Peter 2:13–16; 2 Timothy 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:9–11
- 27 Judges 8:33–34; Judges 3:7; Acts 13:8; Judges 10:6; 2 Kings 21:3
- 28 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Corinthians 2:17; Luke 12:42; Proverbs 14:5; Matthew 24:45
- 29 Hebrews 4:12; Jeremiah 5:14; Luke 24:32; Jeremiah 20:9; 2 Corinthians 10:4–5
- 30 Deuteronomy 18:20; Ezekiel 13:8; Jeremiah 14:14–15; Psalm 34:16; Ezekiel 13:20
- 31 Jeremiah 23:17; 2 Chronicles 18:10–12; Isaiah 30:10; 2 Chronicles 18:5; 2 Chronicles 18:19–21
- 32 Zephaniah 3:4; Ezekiel 13:7–18; Lamentations 2:14; Jeremiah 29:31; Jeremiah 7:8
- 33 Malachi 1:1; Jeremiah 12:7; Nahum 1:1; Hosea 9:12; Deuteronomy 32:19–20
- 34 Zechariah 13:3; Lamentations 2:14
- 35 Jeremiah 31:34; Jeremiah 33:3; Jeremiah 42:4; Hebrews 8:11
- 36 Isaiah 3:8; 2 Peter 3:16; Jeremiah 10:10; Psalm 64:8; Psalm 120:3
- 38 2 Chronicles 11:13–14
- 39 Jeremiah 23:33; Ezekiel 8:18; Ezekiel 34:20; Isaiah 51:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:9
- 40 Jeremiah 20:11; Ezekiel 5:14–15; Jeremiah 42:18; Deuteronomy 28:37; Jeremiah 24:9
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For where outside heaven and earth can I go that from thence my God may come into me who has said, I fill heaven and earth"? Chapter III — Everywhere God Wholly Filleth All Things, But Neither Heaven Nor Earth…
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
And how shall we preserve the truth that God pervades all things and fills all, as it is written "Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord," and "The Spirit of the Lord filleth the world," if God partly contains and partly is contained?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
as the Scriptures say, Do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 9 (1899)
And who is this but our God, the God that created heaven and earth, and filleth them, because by filling them He created them?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
… gave their roundness to the eye and to the apple; and the other natural objects which we anywhere see, received also their form, not from without, but from the secret and profound might of the Creator, who said, "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" and whose wisdom it is that "reacheth from one end to another mightily; and sweetly …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)