3. I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have banished them and bring them back to their folds; there they shall be fruitful and multiply.
4. I will raise up shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear or be terrified; none shall be missing—oracle of the Lord.
5. See, days are coming—oracle of the Lord—when I will raise up a righteous branch for David;As king he shall reign and govern wisely,he shall do what is just and right in the land.
6. In his days Judah shall be saved,Israel shall dwell in security.This is the name to be given him:“The Lord our justice.”
7. Therefore, the days are coming—oracle of the Lord—when they shall no longer say, “As the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt”;
8. but rather, “As the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of the house of Israel up from the land of the north”—and from all the lands to which I banished them; they shall again live on their own soil.
9. Concerning the prophets:My heart is broken within me,all my bones tremble;I am like a drunk,like one overcome by wine,Because of the Lord,because of his holy words.
10. The land is filled with adulterers;because of the curse the land mourns,the pastures of the wilderness are withered.Theirs is an evil course,theirs is unjust power.
11. Both prophet and priest are godless!In my very house I find their wickedness—oracle of the Lord.
12. Hence their way shall become for themslippery ground.Into the darkness they shall be driven,and fall headlong;For I will bring disaster upon them,the year of their punishment—oracle of the Lord.
13. Among Samaria’s prophetsI saw something unseemly:They prophesied by Baaland led my people Israel astray.
14. But among Jerusalem’s prophetsI saw something more shocking:Adultery, walking in deception,strengthening the power of the wicked,so that no one turns from evil;To me they are all like Sodom,its inhabitants like Gomorrah.
15. Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts against the prophets:Look, I will give them wormwood to eat,and poisoned water to drink;For from Jerusalem’s prophetsungodliness has gone forth into the whole land.
16. Thus says the Lord of hosts:Do not listen to the words of your prophets,who fill you with emptiness;They speak visions from their own fancy,not from the mouth of the Lord.
17. They say to those who despise the word of the Lord,“Peace shall be yours”;And to everyone who walks in hardness of heart,“No evil shall overtake you.”
18. Now, who has stood in the council of the Lord,to see him and to hear his word?Who has heeded his word so as to announce it?