Hope for the Future
1 How terrible will be the Lord's judgment on those rulers who destroy and scatter his people! 2 This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the rulers who were supposed to take care of his people: “You have not taken care of my people; you have scattered them and driven them away. Now I am going to punish you for the evil you have done. 3 I will gather the rest of my people from the countries where I have scattered them, and I will bring them back to their homeland. They will have many children and increase in number. 4 I will appoint rulers to take care of them. My people will no longer be afraid or terrified, and I will not punish them again. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
5 The Lord says, “The time is coming when I will choose as king a righteous descendant of David. That king will rule wisely and do what is right and just throughout the land. 6 When he is king, the people of Judah will be safe, and the people of Israel will live in peace. He will be called ‘The Lord Our Salvation.’
7 “The time is coming,” says the Lord, “when people will no longer swear by me as the living God who brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt. 8 Instead, they will swear by me as the living God who brought the people of Israel out of a northern land and out of all the other countries where I had scattered them. Then they will live in their own land.”
Jeremiah's Message about the Prophets
9 My heart is crushed,
and I am trembling.
Because of the Lord,
because of his holy words,
I am like a man who is drunk,
someone who has had too much wine.
10 The land is full of people unfaithful to the Lord;
they live wicked lives and misuse their power.
Because of the Lord's curse the land mourns
and the pastures are dry.
11 The Lord says,
“The prophets and the priests are godless;
I have caught them doing evil in the Temple itself.
12 The paths they follow will be slippery and dark;
I will make them stumble and fall.
I am going to bring disaster on them;
the time of their punishment is coming.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
13 I have seen the sin of Samaria's prophets:
they have spoken in the name of Baal
and have led my people astray.
14 But I have seen the prophets in Jerusalem do even worse:
they commit adultery and tell lies;
they help people to do wrong,
so that no one stops doing what is evil.
To me they are all as bad
as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
15 “So then, this is what I, the Lord Almighty, say about the prophets of Jerusalem:
I will give them bitter plants to eat
and poison to drink,
because they have spread ungodliness throughout the land.”
16 The Lord Almighty said to the people of Jerusalem, “Do not listen to what the prophets say; they are filling you with false hopes. They tell you what they have imagined and not what I have said. 17 To the people who refuse to listen to what I have said, they keep saying that all will go well with them. And they tell everyone who is stubborn that disaster will never touch them.”
18 I said, “None of these prophets has ever known the Lord's secret thoughts. None of them has ever heard or understood his message, or ever listened or paid attention to what he said. 19 His anger is a storm, a furious wind that will rage over the heads of the wicked, 20 and it will not end until he has done everything he intends to do. In days to come his people will understand this clearly.”
21 The Lord said, “I did not send these prophets, but even so they went. I did not give them any message, but still they spoke in my name. 22 If they had known my secret thoughts, then they could have proclaimed my message to my people and could have made them give up the evil lives they live and the wicked things they do.
23 “I am a God who is everywhere and not in one place only. 24 No one can hide where I cannot see them. Do you not know that I am everywhere in heaven and on earth? 25 I know what those prophets have said who speak lies in my name and claim that I have given them my messages in their dreams. 26 How much longer will those prophets mislead my people with the lies they have invented? 27 They think that the dreams they tell will make my people forget me, just as their ancestors forgot me and turned to Baal. 28 The prophet who has had a dream should say it is only a dream, but the prophet who has heard my message should proclaim that message faithfully. What good is straw compared with wheat? 29 My message is like a fire and like a hammer that breaks rocks in pieces. 30 I am against those prophets who take each other's words and proclaim them as my message. 31 I am also against those prophets who speak their own words and claim they came from me. 32 Listen to what I, the Lord, say! I am against the prophets who tell their dreams that are full of lies. They tell these dreams and lead my people astray with their lies and their boasting. I did not send them or order them to go, and they are of no help at all to the people. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
The Lord's Burden
33 The Lord said to me, “Jeremiah, when one of my people or a prophet or a priest asks you, ‘What is the Lord's message?’ you are to say, ‘You are a burden to the Lord, and he is going to get rid of you.’ 34 If any of my people or a prophet or a priest even uses the words ‘the Lord's burden,’ I will punish them and their families. 35 Instead, each one of them should ask their friends and their relatives, ‘What answer has the Lord given? What has the Lord said?’ 36 So they must no longer use the words ‘the Lord's burden,’ because if any of them do, I will make my message a real burden to them. The people have perverted the words of their God, the living God, the Lord Almighty. 37 Jeremiah, ask the prophets, ‘What answer did the Lord give you? What did the Lord say?’ 38 And if they disobey my command and use the words ‘the Lord's burden,’ then tell them that 39 I will certainly pick them up and throw them far away from me, both them and the city that I gave to them and their ancestors. 40 I will bring on them everlasting shame and disgrace that will never be forgotten.”
Īstā Dāvida atvase
(Jer 16:14–15)1 “Vai! ganiem, kuri izdeldē un pazaudē avis no manām ganībām,” saka Kungs. 2 Tādēļ tā saka Kungs, Israēla Dievs, par ganiem, kas gana manu tautu: “Jūs aiztrencāt un padzināt manas avis, un jūs tās nemeklējāt! Redzi, es piemeklēšu jūs jūsu ļauno darbu dēļ,” saka Kungs. 3 “Es savākšu avis, kas vēl atlikušas, no visām zemēm, kur es tās biju aiztriecis, un atvedīšu tās atpakaļ uz viņu ganībām, un tās augļosies un vairosies. 4 Es došu tām ganus, un tie tās ganīs – tām vairs nebūs nedz jātrūkstas, nedz jābīstas, un nezudīs neviena,” saka Kungs.
5 “Redzi, nāk dienas,”
saka Kungs,
“es riesīšu Dāvidam taisnības atvasi,
un kā ķēniņš viņš valdīs ar apdomu
un uz zemes darīs tiesu un taisnību!
6 Viņa dienās Jūda būs glābta
un Israēls dzīvos drošībā,
tas ir viņa vārds, viņu sauks:
Kungs – mūsu taisnība.
7 Tādēļ, redzi, nāk dienas, saka Kungs, kad vairs neteiks: dzīvs Kungs, kas izveda Israēla dēlus no Ēģiptes zemes, 8 bet gan: dzīvs Kungs, kas izveda un veda Israēla nama pēcnācējus no ziemeļu zemes un no visām zemēm, kur bija tos aiztriecis, un tie dzīvos savā zemē.”
Par viltus praviešiem
9 Par praviešiem:
mana sirds satriekta,
man mīksti visi kauli,
es biju kā piedzēries,
kā vīrs, kuru vīns pievārējis, –
no Kunga un viņa svētuma vārdiem!
10 Laulības pārkāpēju pilna ir zeme!
Zeme sēro viņu lāsta dēļ,
un tuksneša ganības kalst –
tie skrēja pēc ļauna,
un viņu varenība
ir netaisna!
11 “Gan pravietis, gan priesteris
dzen neģēlību,
pat manā namā
es atrodu viņu ļaunumu,”
saka Kungs.
12 “Tādēļ to ceļš būs slidens!
Tumsā tos grūdīs, tie iekritīs tur,
jo es nesu tiem ļaunu
viņu piemeklēšanas gadā,”
saka Kungs.
13 “Pie Samarijas praviešiem
es redzēju nelietību,
tie Baalam pravietoja
un aizvīla manu tautu Israēlu!
14 Pie Jeruzālemes praviešiem
es redzēju šaušalas –
pārkāpj laulību un melo,
un vingrina ļaunumā roku!
Neviens no sava ļaunuma nenovēršas –
tie visi ir kā Sodoma,
visi kopā kā Gomora!”
15 Tādēļ tā saka Pulku Kungs par praviešiem:
“Redzi, es viņus vērmelēm barošu
un ar indes ūdeni dzirdīšu!
Jo no Jeruzālemes praviešiem
neģēlība iziet pa visu zemi!”
16 Tā saka Pulku Kungs:
“Neklausieties to praviešu vārdos,
kuri jums pravieto, –
tie melš tukšu
un runā, ko pareģo viņu sirds,
nevis no Kunga mutes!
17 Uz tiem, kas nopaļā Kunga vārdu,
tie runātin runā:
jums būs miers!
Tiem, kas savas sirds stūrgalvībā staigā,
tie saka: ļaunums nenāks pār jums!
18 Bet kurš stāvēja Kunga pulkā
un redzēja, dzirdēja viņa vārdu?
Kas klausījās viņa vārdos un sadzirdēja?!”
19 Redzi, atnāca Kunga niknuma vētra,
un viesulis virpuļo,
tas ķers ļaundaru galvu!
20 Kunga dusmas prom negriezīsies,
līdz viņš izdarīs un panāks,
ko viņa sirds nodomājusi! –
pēdējās dienās,
tad gan jūs zināsiet, kur saprašana!
21 “Es šos praviešus nesūtīju –
bet viņi skrien!
Es uz tiem nerunāju –
bet viņi pravieto!
22 Ja manā pulkā
tie būtu stāvējuši,
tad manai tautai
būtu teikuši manus vārdus
un atgriezuši tos
no viņu ļaunajiem ceļiem
un viņu ļaunajiem darbiem!
23 Vai es neesmu tuvs Dievs?”
saka Kungs,
“taču ne tāls Dievs!
24 Vai vīrs paslēpsies slēptuvē,
ka es neredzēšu? –
saka Kungs,
vai ne es
piepildu debesis un zemi? –
saka Kungs.
25 Es dzirdēju, ko teica tie pravieši, kas manā vārdā pravieto melus: nosapņoju, nosapņoju! 26 Cik ilgi vēl mans vārds būs to praviešu sirdī, kuri pravieto melus? Un pie tiem praviešiem, kuri – savas sirds viltu? 27 Tie grib, lai ir aizmirsts mans vārds manā tautā – ar saviem sapņiem, ko tie stāsta viens otram! Tāpat viņu tēvi aizmirsa manu vārdu Baala dēļ! 28 Pravietis, kam ir sapnis, stāsta sapni, un, kam ir mans vārds, tas patiesi runā manu vārdu!
Kas salmiem kopīgs ar kviešiem?! –
saka Kungs.
29 Vai mans vārds nav kā uguns,
saka Kungs,
un kā āmurs, kas sadragā klinti?
30 Tādēļ, redzi, es esmu pret tiem praviešiem, saka Kungs, kas viens otram zog manus vārdus! 31 Redzi, es esmu pret tiem praviešiem, saka Kungs, kuri ņemas ar savu mēli teikt: tā saka Kungs. 32 Redzi, es esmu pret tiem, kuri pravieto melu sapņus – kas tos stāsta un aizviļ manu tautu ar saviem meliem un bezkaunīgu muldēšanu! Es tos nesūtīju un tiem nepavēlēju, šai tautai tie nelīdz nenieka,” saka Kungs.
33 “Kad tev šī tauta vai pravietis, vai priesteris jautās: kur Kunga pravietojumu nasta? – saki tiem: jūs esat nasta, un es jūs atmetīšu! – saka Kungs. – 34 Un, ja pravietis vai priesteris, vai tauta teiks: šī ir Kunga pravietojumu nasta, – tad es piemeklēšu to vīru un viņa namu! 35 Tā sakiet viens otram, ik vīrs savam brālim: ko Kungs atbildēja? Ko Kungs sacīja? – 36 Aizmirstiet “Kunga pravietojumu nastu”, jo katram viņa sacītais būs pašam par nastu, jo tā jūs apgriežat otrādi dzīvā Dieva, Pulku Kunga, mūsu Dieva, vārdus! 37 Tā sakiet pravietim: ko tev atbildēja Kungs? Ko teica Kungs? – 38 Un, ja jūs teiksiet: “Kunga pravietojumu nasta”, – tad tā saka Kungs: tādēļ, ka jūs teicāt šos vārdus “Kunga pravietojumu nasta”, kaut arī es pie jums sūtīju, sacīdams: nesakiet “Kunga pravietojumu nasta”, 39 tad, redzi, tādēļ es pacelšu jūs kā nastu un aizmetīšu projām no sava vaiga kopā ar pilsētu, ko es devu jums un jūsu tēviem! 40 Es došu mūžīgu izsmieklu un mūžīgu negodu – tas netiks aizmirsts!”
