Jeremiah · Literal Standard Version
Jeremiah 23 Literal Standard Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 “Woe to shepherds destroying, || And scattering the flock of My pasture,” || A declaration of YHWH.
1 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh.
2 Therefore, thus said YHWH, God of Israel, || Against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, and drive them away, || And have not inspected them, || Behold, I am charging on you the evil of your doings,” || A declaration of YHWH.
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 gather the remnant of My flock || Out of all the lands to where I drove them, || And have brought them back to their fold, || And they have been fruitful, and multiplied.
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 have raised shepherds for them, || And they have fed them, || And they no longer fear, nor are frightened, || Nor are they lacking,” || A declaration of YHWH.
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, days are coming,” || A declaration of YHWH, || “And I have raised a righteous shoot to David, || And a king has reigned and acted wisely, || And done judgment and righteousness in the earth.
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 Judah is saved in His days, and Israel dwells confidently, || And this [is] His Name that YHWH proclaims Him: 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 Therefore, behold, days are coming,” || A declaration of YHWH, || “And they no longer say, YHWH lives who brought up || The sons of Israel 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—YHWH lives, 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 to where I drove them, || And they have dwelt on their own ground!”
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 In reference to the prophets: My heart has been broken in my midst, || All my bones have fluttered, || I have been as a man—a drunkard, || And as a man—wine has passed over him, || Because of YHWH, and 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 has been full of adulterers, || For the land has mourned because of these, || The pleasant places of the wilderness have dried up, || And their course is evil, and their might—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 both prophet and priest have been profane, || Indeed, I found their wickedness in My house,” || A declaration of YHWH.
11 for both prophet and priest are profane. Yes, in my house I have found their wickedness,” says Yahweh.
12 “Therefore their way is as slippery places to them, || They are driven into thick darkness, || And they have fallen in it, || For I bring in calamity against them, || The year of their inspection,” || A declaration of YHWH.
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 folly in prophets of Samaria, || They have prophesied by Ba‘al, || And cause My people—Israel—to err.
13 “I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria. They prophesied by Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
14 And I have seen a horrible thing in prophets of Jerusalem, || Committing adultery, and walking falsely, || Indeed, they strengthened the hands of evildoers, || So that they have not turned back, || Each from his wickedness, || All of them have been as Sodom to me, || And its inhabitants as 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 Therefore, thus said YHWH of Hosts, concerning the prophets: “Behold, I am causing them to eat wormwood, || And have caused them to drink water of gall, || For from prophets of Jerusalem || Profanity has gone forth to 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 Thus said YHWH of Hosts: “You do not listen to the words || Of the prophets who are prophesying to you, || They are making you vain things, || They speak a vision of their own heart, || Not from the mouth of YHWH.
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 Diligently saying to those despising, || The word of YHWH: Peace is for you, || And [to] everyone walking in the stubbornness of his heart, they have said: Evil does not 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 who has stood in the counsel of YHWH, || And sees and hears His word? Who has regarded My word, and listens?
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, a whirlwind of YHWH—Fury has gone out, even a piercing whirlwind, || It stays on the head of the wicked.
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 anger of YHWH does not turn back || Until His doing, and until His establishing, || The thoughts of His heart, || In the latter end of the days || You attend to it with understanding.
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 have not sent the prophets, and they have run, || I have not spoken to them, and they have prophesied.
21 I didn’t send these prophets, yet they ran. I didn’t speak to them, yet they 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.
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 near,” || A declaration of YHWH, || “And not a God far off?
23 “Am I a God at hand,” says Yahweh, “and not a God afar off?
24 Is anyone hidden in secret places, || And I do not see him?” A declaration of YHWH, “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” A declaration of YHWH.
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 that which the prophets said, || Who prophesy falsehood in My Name, saying, || I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
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 Until when is it in the heart of the prophets? The prophets of falsehood, || Indeed, prophets of the deceit of their heart,
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 Who are devising to cause My people || To forget My Name by their dreams, || That they each recount to his neighbor, || As their fathers forgot My Name for Ba‘al.
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 with whom [is] a dream, || Let him recount the dream, || And he with whom [is] My word, || Let him truly speak My word. What does the straw [have to do] with the grain?” A declaration of YHWH.
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 it not thus? My word [is] as fire,” || A declaration of YHWH. “And as a hammer—it breaks a rock in pieces.
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,” || A declaration of YHWH, || “Each stealing My words from his neighbor.
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,” || A declaration of YHWH, || “Who are making their tongue smooth, || And they affirm—an affirmation.
31 Behold, I am against the prophets,” says Yahweh, “who use their tongues, and say, ‘He says.’
32 Behold, I [am] against the prophets of false dreams,” || A declaration of YHWH, || “And they recount them, and cause My people to err, || By their falsehoods, and by their instability, || And I have not sent them, || Nor have I commanded them, || And they are not profitable to this people at all,” || A declaration of YHWH.
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 when this people, or the prophet, || Or a priest, asks you, saying, What [is] the burden of YHWH? Then you have said to them: You [are] the burden, and I have left you,” || A declaration of YHWH.
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 the prophet, and the priest, and the people, || That says, The burden of YHWH, || I have seen after that man, and after 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 Thus you each say to his neighbor, || And each to his brother: What has YHWH answered? And what has YHWH spoken?
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 do not mention the burden of YHWH anymore, || For the burden to each is His word, || And you have overturned the words of the living God, YHWH of Hosts, our God.
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 Thus you say to the prophet, || What has YHWH answered you? And what has YHWH spoken?
37 You will say to the prophet, ‘What has Yahweh answered you?’ and, ‘What has Yahweh spoken?’
38 And if you say, The burden of YHWH, || Therefore, thus said YHWH: Because of your saying this word, || The burden of YHWH, || And I send to you, saying, || You do not say, The burden of YHWH.
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 have utterly taken you away, || And I have sent you out, || And the city that I gave to you, || And to your fathers, 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 have put continuous reproach on you, || And continuous shame that is not forgotten!”
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)