23. “Am I a God who is only near” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “and not a God who is far away?
24. Can a man hide himself in secret places where I cannot see him? ” — the Lord’s declaration. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? ” — the Lord’s declaration.
25. “I have heard what the prophets who prophesy a lie in My name have said, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’
26. How long will this continue in the minds of the prophets prophesying lies, prophets of the deceit of their own minds?
27. Through their dreams that they tell one another, they plan to cause My people to forget My name as their fathers forgot My name through Baal worship.
28. The prophet who has only a dream should recount the dream, but the one who has My word should speak My word truthfully, for what is straw compared to grain? ” — this is the Lord’s declaration.
29. “Is not My word like fire” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “and like a hammer that pulverizes rock?
30. Therefore, take note! I am against the prophets” — the Lord’s declaration — “who steal My words from each other.
31. I am against the prophets” — the Lord’s declaration — “who use their own tongues to make a declaration.
32. I am against those who prophesy false dreams” — the Lord’s declaration — “telling them and leading My people astray with their falsehoods and their boasting. It was not I who sent or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people” — this is the Lord’s declaration.
33. “Now when these people or a prophet or a priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the Lord? ’ you will respond to them: What is the burden? I will throw you away” — this is the Lord’s declaration.
34. “As for the prophet, priest, or people who say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ I will punish that man and his household.
35. This is what each man is to say to his friend and to his brother, ‘What has the Lord answered?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’
36. But no longer refer to the burden of the Lord, for each man’s word becomes his burden and you pervert the words of the living God, the Lord of Hosts, our God.
37. You must say to the prophet: What has the Lord answered you? and What has the Lord spoken?