9. Here is my message about the prophets. My heart is broken inside me. All of my bones tremble with fear. I am like a man who is drunk. I am like someone who has had too much wine. That's what the Lord's holy words have done to me.
10. The land is full of people who aren't faithful to the Lord. Now the land is under his curse. And that's why it is thirsty for water. That's why the grasslands in the desert are dry. The prophets are leading sinful lives. They don't use their power in the right way.
11. "Prophets and priests alike are ungodly," announces the Lord. "Even in my temple I find them sinning.
12. So their path will become slippery. They will be thrown out into darkness. There they will fall. I will bring trouble on them when the time to punish them comes," announces the Lord.
13. "Among the prophets of Samaria I saw something I can't stand. They were prophesying in the name of Baal. They were leading my people Israel down the wrong path.
14. I have also seen something horrible among Jerusalem's prophets. They are not faithful to me. They are not living by the truth. They strengthen the hands of those who do evil. So the people do not turn from their sinful ways. All of them are like the people of Sodom to me. They are just like the people of Gomorrah."
15. So the Lord who rules over all speaks about the prophets. He says, "I will make them eat bitter food. I will make them drink poisoned water. The prophets of Jerusalem have spread their ungodly ways all through the land."
16. The Lord who rules over all says to the people of Judah, "Do not listen to what the prophets are saying to you. They fill you with false hopes. They talk about visions that come from their own minds. What they say does not come from my mouth.
17. They keep speaking to those who hate me. They say, 'The Lord says you will have peace.' They speak to all those who do what their stubborn hearts want them to do. They tell them, 'No harm will come to you.'
18. But which of them has ever stood in my courts? Have they been there to see a vision or hear my message? Who has listened and heard my message there?
19. A storm will burst out because of my burning anger. A windstorm will sweep down on the heads of sinful people.
20. My anger will not turn back. I will accomplish everything I plan to do. In days to come you will understand it clearly.
21. I did not send those prophets. But they have run to tell you their message anyway. I did not speak to them. But they have still prophesied.
22. Suppose they had stood in my courts. Then they would have announced my message to my people. They would have turned my people from their evil ways. They would have turned them away from their sins.
23. "Am I only a God who is nearby?" announces the Lord. "Am I not a God who is also far away?
24. Can anyone hide in secret places so that I can't see him?" announces the Lord. "Don't I fill heaven and earth?" announces the Lord.
25. "I have heard what the prophets are saying. They prophesy lies in my name. They say, 'I had a dream! The Lord has given me a dream!'
26. How long will that continue in the hearts of those prophets who tell lies? They try to get others to believe their own mistaken ideas.