9. When I think of the prophets,I am shocked, and I tremblelike someone drunk,because of the Lordand his sacred words.
10. Those unfaithful prophetsmisuse their powerall over the country.So God turned the pasture landsinto scorching deserts.
11. The Lord told me to say:You prophets and prieststhink so little of me, the Lord,that you even sinin my own temple!
12. Now I will punish youwith disaster,and you will slip and fallin the darkness.I, the Lord, have spoken.
13. The prophets in Samariawere disgusting to me,because they preachedin the name of Baaland led my people astray.
14. And you prophets in Jerusalemare even worse.You're unfaithful in marriageand never tell the truth.You even lead others to sininstead of helping themturn back to me.You and the people of Jerusalemare evil like Sodomand Gomorrah.
15. You prophets in Jerusalemhave spread evil everywhere.That's why I, the Lord, promiseto give you bitter poisonto eat and drink.
16. Don't listen to the liesof these false prophets,you people of Judah!The message they preachis something they imagined;it did not come from me,the Lord All-Powerful.
17. These prophets go to peoplewho refuse to respect meand who are stubbornand do whatever they want.The prophets tell them,“The Lord has promisedeverything will be fine.”
18. But I, the Lord, tell youthat these prophetshave never attended a meetingof my council in heavenor heard me speak.
19. They are evil! So in my angerI will strike themlike a violent storm.
20. I won't calm down,until I have finishedwhat I have decided to do.Some day you will understandexactly what I mean.
21. I did not send these prophetsor speak to them,but they ran to find youand to preach their message.
22. If they had been in a meetingof my council in heaven,they would have toldyou people of Judahto give up your sinsand come back to me.
23. I am everywhere—both near and far,
24. in heaven and on earth.There are no secret placeswhere you can hide from me.