Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Do not listento the wordsof the prophetswho are prophesyingto you. They are leadingyou into futility;They speaka visionof their own imagination,Not from the mouthof the LORD.
Then Zedekiahthe sonof Chenaanahmadehornsof ironfor himself and said,"Thussaysthe LORD,With theseyou will gorethe Arameansuntilthey are consumed.'"
They rejectedHis statutesand His covenantwhichHe madewith their fathersand His warningswith whichHe warnedthem. And they followedvanityand becamevain,and [went] afterthe nationswhichsurroundedthem, concerning whichthe LORDhad commandedthem not to dolike them.
Then the kingof Israelassembledthe prophets,fourhundredmen,and saidto them, "Shall we goagainstRamoth-gileadto battle,orshall I refrain?"And they said,"Goup, for Godwill give[it] into the handof the king."
Ceaselistening,my son,to discipline,[And you will] strayfrom the wordsof knowledge.
Then the LORDsaidto me, "The prophetsare prophesyingfalsehoodin My name.I have neithersentthem norcommandedthem norspokento them; they are prophesyingto you a false vision,divination,futilityand the deceptionof their own minds.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Whatinjusticedid your fathersfindin Me, That they wentfarfrom Me And walkedafteremptinessand becameempty?
"I did not send[these] prophets,But they ran.I did not speakto them, But they prophesied.
"Howlong?Is there[anything] in the heartsof the prophetswho prophesyfalsehood,even [these] prophetsof the deceptionof their own heart,
becausethey have actedfoolishlyin Israel,and have committedadulterywith their neighbors'wivesand have spokenwordsin My namefalsely,whichI did not commandthem; and I am He who knowsand am a witness,"declaresthe LORD.'"
"For thussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,Do not let your prophetswhoare in your midstand your divinersdeceiveyou, and do not listento the dreamswhichthey dream.
Whois the wisemanthat may understandthis?And [who is] he to whomthe mouthof the LORDhas spoken,that he may declareit? Whyis the landruined,laidwastelike a desert,sothat noonepassesthrough?
Nowhearthe wordof the LORD,O you women,And let your earreceivethe wordof His mouth;Teachyour daughterswailing,And everyoneher neighbora dirge.
Her gateshave sunkinto the ground,He has destroyedand brokenher bars.Her kingand her princesare among the nations;The lawis nomore.Also,her prophetsfindNovisionfrom the LORD.
[along with] the prophetsof Israelwho prophesyto Jerusalem,and who seevisionsof peacefor her when thereis nopeace,'declaresthe LordGOD.
therefore,you women will nolongerseefalse~visionsor practicedivination,and I will deliverMy peopleout of your hand.Thus you will knowthat I am the LORD."
Thussaysthe LordGOD,"Woeto the foolishprophetswhoare followingtheir own spiritand have seennothing.
"They seefalsehoodand lyingdivinationwho are saying,'The LORDdeclares,'when the LORDhas not sentthem; yet they hopefor the fulfillmentof [their] word.
"Her prophetshave smearedwhitewashfor them, seeingfalse~visionsand diviningliesfor them, saying,'Thussaysthe LordGOD,'when the LORDhas not spoken.
"Ifa manwalkingafter windand falsehoodHad toldlies[and said], 'I will speakout to you concerning wineand liquor,'He would be spokesmanto thispeople.
"Bewareof the false prophets,whocometo you in sheep'sclothing,but inwardlyare ravenouswolves.
For even though they knewGod,they did not honorHim as Godorgive thanks,but they became futilein their speculations,and their foolishheartwas darkened.
Beloved,do not believeeveryspirit,but testthe spiritsto see whetherthey are from God,becausemanyfalse prophetshave goneout into the world.
