22. "But if they had stood in My council, Then they would have announced My words to My people, And would have turned them back from their evil way And from the evil of their deeds.
23. "Am I a God who is near," declares the Lord, "And not a God far off?
24. "Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?" declares the Lord. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the Lord.
25. "I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, 'I had a dream, I had a dream!'
26. How long? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the deception of their own heart,
27. who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another, just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal?
28. The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?" declares the Lord.
29. "Is not My word like fire?" declares the Lord, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
30. Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," declares the Lord, "who steal My words from each other.
31. Behold, I am against the prophets," declares the Lord, "who use their tongues and declare, 'The Lord declares.'
32. Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams," declares the Lord, "and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit," declares the Lord.
33. "Now when this people or the prophet or a priest asks you saying, 'What is the oracle of the Lord?' then you shall say to them, 'What oracle?' The Lord declares, 'I will abandon you.'
34. Then as for the prophet or the priest or the people who say, 'The oracle of the Lord,' I will bring punishment upon that man and his household.
35. Thus will each of you say to his neighbor and to his brother, 'What has the Lord answered?' or, 'What has the Lord spoken?'