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12 They may even go without eating[a] and offer sacrifices to please me[b] and to give thanks.[c] But when they cry out for my help, I won't listen, and I won't accept their sacrifices. Instead, I'll send war, starvation, and disease to wipe them out.”

13 I replied, “The other prophets keep telling everyone that you won't send starvation or war, and that you're going to give us peace.”

14 The Lord answered:

They claim to speak for me, but they're lying! I didn't even speak to them, much less choose them to be my prophets. Their messages come from worthless dreams, useless fortunetelling, and their own imaginations.

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Footnotes

  1. 14.12 go without eating: The people of Israel sometimes went without eating to show sorrow for their sins.
  2. 14.12 sacrifices to please me: These sacrifices have traditionally been called “whole burnt offerings” because the whole animal was burned on the altar. A main purpose of such sacrifices was to please the Lord with the smell of the sacrifice, and so in the CEV they are sometimes called “sacrifices to please the Lord.”
  3. 14.12 sacrifices … to give thanks: These sacrifices have traditionally been called “grain offerings.” A main purpose of such sacrifices was to thank the Lord with a gift of grain, and so in the CEV they are sometimes called “sacrifices to give thanks to the Lord.”

12 Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry;(A) though they offer burnt offerings(B) and grain offerings,(C) I will not accept(D) them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword,(E) famine(F) and plague.”(G)

13 But I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophets(H) keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine.(I) Indeed, I will give you lasting peace(J) in this place.’”

14 Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies(K) in my name. I have not sent(L) them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions,(M) divinations,(N) idolatries[a] and the delusions of their own minds.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 14:14 Or visions, worthless divinations