26. How long will this continue? They think up lies and then they teach them to the people.
27. They are trying to make the people of Judah forget my name by telling each other these false dreams. They are trying to make my people forget me, just as their ancestors forgot me and worshiped the false god Baal.
28. Straw is not the same as wheat! In the same way, the dreams of those prophets are not messages from me. If people want to tell about their dreams, let them. But those who hear my message must speak it truthfully.” This is what the Lord says.
29. Yes, the Lord says, “You must treat my message carefully, like a fire or like a hammer that can smash a rock.”
30. This message is from the Lord: “So I am against the false prophets. They keep stealing my words from each other.”
31. Yes, the Lord says, “I am against the false prophets. They use their own words and pretend that it is a message from me.
32. I am against the false prophets who tell false dreams.” This message is from the Lord. “They mislead my people with their lies and false teachings. I did not send them to teach the people. I never commanded them to do anything for me. They cannot help the people of Judah at all.” This message is from the Lord.
33. “The people of Judah, or a prophet, or a priest may ask you, ‘Jeremiah, what is the announcement of the Lord?’ You will answer them and say, ‘You are a heavy load, and I will throw down this heavy load.’ This message is from the Lord.
34. “A prophet, or a priest, or maybe one of the people might say, ‘This is an announcement from the Lord ….’ Because of that lie, I will punish that person and their whole family.
35. This is what you will say to one another: ‘What did the Lord answer?’ or ‘What did the Lord say?’
36. But you will never again use the expression, ‘The announcement of the Lord.’ That is because his message should not be a heavy load for anyone. But you changed the words of our God. He is the living God, the Lord All-Powerful!
37. “If you want to learn about God’s message, ask a prophet, ‘What answer did the Lord give you?’ or ‘What did the Lord say?’