Online Bible

Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 23

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Jeremiah 23 NWT - New World TranslationJeremiah 23 NWT - New World Translation

Chapter 23 of Jeremiah—New World Translation (NWT)

  1. ¶ “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasturage!”1 is the utterance of Jehovah.
  2. ¶ Therefore this is what Jehovah the God of Israel has said against the shepherds who are shepherding my people: “YOU yourselves have scattered my sheep; and YOU kept dispersing them, and YOU have not turned your attention to them.”2
    ¶ “Here I am turning my attention upon YOU for the badness of YOUR dealings,”3 is the utterance of Jehovah.
  3. ¶ “And I myself shall collect together the remnant of my sheep out of all the lands to which I had dispersed them,4 and I will bring them back to their pasture ground,5 and they will certainly be fruitful and become many.6
  4. And I will raise up over them shepherds who will actually shepherd them;7 and they will be afraid no more, neither will they be struck with any terror,8 and none will be missing,” is the utterance of Jehovah.
  5. ¶ “Look! There are days coming,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “and I will raise up to David a righteous sprout.9 And a king will certainly reign10 and act with discretion and execute justice and righteousness in the land.11
  6. In his days Judah will be saved,12 and Israel itself will reside in security.13 And this is his name with which he will be called, Jehovah Is Our Righteousness.”[a]14
  7. ¶ “Therefore, look! there are days coming,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “and they will no more say, ‘Jehovah is alive who brought the sons of Israel up out of the land of Egypt,’15
  8. but, ‘Jehovah is alive who brought up and who brought in the offspring[b] of the house of Israel out of the land of the north and out of all the lands to which I have dispersed them,’ and they will certainly dwell on their own ground.”16
  9. ¶ As regards the prophets, my heart has been broken within me. All my bones have begun shaking. I have become like a man[c] that is drunk,17 and like an able-bodied man[d] whom wine has overcome, because of Jehovah and because of his holy words.
  10. For it is with adulterers[e]18 that the land has become full.19 For because of the curse[f] the land has gone to mourning,20 the pasture grounds of the wilderness have dried up;21 and their course of action proves to be bad, and their mightiness is not right.
  11. ¶ “For both the prophet and the priest themselves have become polluted.22 Also in my own house I have found their badness,”23 is the utterance of Jehovah.
  12. “Therefore their way will become for them like slippery places24 in the gloom, into which they will be pushed and certainly fall.”25
    ¶ “For I shall bring upon them a calamity, the year of their being given attention,”26 is the utterance of Jehovah.
  13. “And in the prophets of Sa·marʹi·a27 I have seen impropriety.[g] They have acted as prophets [incited] by Baʹal,28 and they keep making my people, even Israel, wander about.29
  14. And in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen horrible things,30 committing adultery31 and walking in falsehood;32 and they have strengthened the hands of evildoers in order that they should not return,33 each one from his own badness. To me all of them have become like Sodʹom,34 and the inhabitants of her like Go·morʹrah.”35
  15. ¶ Therefore this is what Jehovah of armies has said against the prophets: “Here I am making them eat wormwood, and I will give them poisoned water to drink.36 For from the prophets of Jerusalem apostasy37 has gone forth to all the land.”
  16. ¶ This is what Jehovah of armies has said: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to YOU people.38 They are making YOU become vain.39 The vision of their own heart is what they speak40—not from the mouth of Jehovah.41
  17. They are saying again and again to those who are disrespectful of me, ‘Jehovah has spoken: “Peace is what YOU people will come to have.”’42 And [to] every one walking in the stubbornness of his heart43 they have said, ‘No calamity will come upon YOU people.’44
  18. For who has stood in the intimate45 group of Jehovah that he might see and hear his word?46 Who has given attention to his word that he might hear it?47
  19. Look! The windstorm of Jehovah, rage itself, will certainly go forth, even a whirling tempest.48 Upon the head of the wicked ones it will whirl itself.49
  20. The anger of Jehovah will not turn back until he will have carried out50 and until he will have made the ideas of his heart come true.51 In the final part of the days YOU people will give YOUR consideration to it with understanding.52
  21. ¶ “I did not send the prophets, yet they themselves ran. I did not speak to them, yet they themselves prophesied.53
  22. But if they had stood in my intimate54 group, then they would have made my people hear my own words, and they would have caused them to turn back from their bad way and from the badness of their dealings.”55
  23. ¶ “Am I a God[h] nearby,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “and not a God far away?”56
  24. ¶ “Or can any man[i] be concealed in places of concealment and I myself not see him?”57 is the utterance of Jehovah.
    ¶ “Is it not the heavens and the earth that I myself actually fill?”58 is the utterance of Jehovah.
  25. “I have heard what the prophets who are prophesying falsehood in my own name59 have said, saying, ‘I have had a dream! I have had a dream!’60
  26. How long will it exist in the heart of the prophets who are prophesying the falsehood and who are prophets of the trickiness of their own heart?61
  27. They are thinking of making my people forget my name by means of their dreams that they keep relating each one to the other,62 just as their fathers forgot my name by means of Baʹal.63
  28. The prophet with whom there is a dream, let him relate the dream; but the one with whom my own word is, let him speak forth my word truthfully.”64
    ¶ “What does the straw have to do with the grain?”65 is the utterance of Jehovah.
  29. ¶ “Is not my word correspondingly like a fire,”66 is the utterance of Jehovah, “and like a forge hammer that smashes the crag?”67
  30. ¶ “Therefore here I am against the prophets,”68 is the utterance of Jehovah, “the ones who are stealing away my words, each one from his companion.”69
  31. ¶ “Here I am against the prophets,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “the ones who are employing their tongue that they may utter forth, ‘An utterance!’”[j]70
  32. ¶ “Here I am against the prophets of false dreams,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “who relate them and cause my people to wander about because of their falsehoods71 and because of their boasting.”72
    ¶ “But I myself did not send them or command them. So they will by no means benefit this people,”73 is the utterance of Jehovah.
  33. ¶ “And when this people or the prophet or priest asks you, saying, ‘What is the burden[k] of Jehovah?’74 you must also say to them, ‘“YOU people are—O what a burden![l]75 And I shall certainly abandon YOU,”76 is the utterance of Jehovah.’
  34. As for the prophet or the priest or the people who say, ‘The burden of Jehovah!’ I will also turn my attention upon that man[m] and upon his household.77
  35. This is what YOU keep saying each one to his fellow and each one to his brother, ‘What has Jehovah answered? And what has Jehovah spoken?’78
  36. But the burden79 of Jehovah mention no more80 YOU people, for the burden itself becomes to each one his own word,81 and YOU have changed the words of the living God,[n]82 Jehovah of armies, our God.
  37. ¶ “This is what you will say to the prophet, ‘What answer has Jehovah given you? And what has Jehovah spoken?83
  38. And if “The burden of Jehovah!” is what YOU keep on saying, therefore this is what Jehovah has said: “By reason of YOUR saying, ‘This word is the very burden of Jehovah,’ when I kept sending to YOU, saying, ‘YOU must not say: “The burden of Jehovah!”’
  39. therefore here I am! And I will give YOU people to neglect, with finality,84 and I will desert YOU and the city that I gave to YOU and to YOUR forefathers—from before me.85
  40. And I will put upon YOU reproach to time indefinite and humiliation to time indefinite, which will not be forgotten.”’”86

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ “Jehovah Is Our Righteousness.” Heb., Yehwahʹ Tsidh·qeʹnu.
  2. ^ Lit., “seed.”
  3. ^ “Like a man.” Heb., keʼishʹ.
  4. ^ “And like an able-bodied man.” Heb., u·khegheʹver.
  5. ^ “Adulterers.” Lat., a·dulʹte·ris.
  6. ^ Or, “oath-bound curse.” Heb., ʼa·lahʹ.
  7. ^ Or, “unseemliness.”
  8. ^ “God.” Heb., ha·ʼElo·hehʹ. Here ha is an interrogative particle introducing a question.
  9. ^ “Any man.” Heb., ʼish.
  10. ^ “And say, ‘Jehovah says,’” Vg; Sy, “and are saying, ‘Jehovah himself has said thus.’”
  11. ^ Or, “What is the pronouncement?” Heb., mah-mas·saʼʹ.
  12. ^ For the rendering “You people are—⁠O what a burden!” see VT, Vol. VI, 1956, pp. 315, 316. Heb., ʼeth-mah-mas·saʼʹ! Thus in answer to the people’s question mah-mas·saʼʹ? Jeremiah puns and replies, ʼeth-mah-mas·saʼʹ! LXXVgc(Lat., vos eʹstis oʹnus), “You people are the burden.”
  13. ^ “That man.” Heb., ha·ʼishʹ ha·huʼʹ.
  14. ^ “The living God.” Heb., ʼElo·himʹ chai·yimʹ, both pl.

REFERENCES

  1. ^ Je 10:21; 50:6; Eze 34:2; Zc 11:5; Mt 9:36
  2. ^ Eze 34:5
  3. ^ Ho 2:13; Mc 7:4
  4. ^ Ps 106:47; Is 11:11; 35:10; Je 29:14; 31:8; Zc 10:8
  5. ^ De 30:3; Is 65:10; Je 50:19; Eze 34:13, 14; Mc 2:12
  6. ^ De 30:5; Am 9:14
  7. ^ Je 3:15; Jn 21:15; Ac 20:28; 1Pe 5:2
  8. ^ Mc 5:8
  9. ^ Is 4:2; 11:1; 53:2; Je 33:15; Zc 3:8; Mt 2:23; Jn 1:45
  10. ^ Lu 1:32
  11. ^ Ps 72:2; Is 9:7; 11:4; 32:1
  12. ^ 1Ki 4:25; Ho 1:7; Zc 10:6
  13. ^ De 33:28; Ps 130:7; Is 62:4; Je 32:37; Zc 14:11
  14. ^ Is 54:17; Je 33:16
  15. ^ Je 16:14
  16. ^ Is 27:12; 43:5; Eze 34:13; 36:24; Zp 3:20
  17. ^ Ps 60:3
  18. ^ Je 3:9; 9:2; 13:27; Eze 16:32; Ho 7:4
  19. ^ Je 5:7; Eze 22:11; Ho 4:2
  20. ^ Is 24:4; Je 12:4; Ho 4:3; Jl 1:10
  21. ^ Ps 107:34; Je 9:10; 12:4
  22. ^ Is 28:7; Je 5:31; 6:13; 8:10; Eze 22:25; Zp 3:4
  23. ^ 2Ch 33:5; 36:14; Je 7:11; Eze 8:11; 23:39
  24. ^ Ps 35:6; 73:18; Pr 4:19; Je 13:16
  25. ^ De 28:15
  26. ^ Je 8:12; 11:23
  27. ^ Eze 16:46
  28. ^ Je 2:8
  29. ^ 2Ch 33:9; Is 9:16
  30. ^ Je 18:13
  31. ^ Je 29:23
  32. ^ Je 14:14; 23:26
  33. ^ De 30:10; Ml 3:7
  34. ^ Is 3:9
  35. ^ Ge 18:20; De 32:32; Is 1:10; Jd 7
  36. ^ Je 8:14; 9:15
  37. ^ Pr 11:9; Is 9:17; 24:5
  38. ^ Je 27:9; 29:8
  39. ^ 2Ki 17:15; Je 2:5
  40. ^ La 2:14
  41. ^ Je 14:14; 28:15; Eze 13:3; 22:28
  42. ^ Je 4:10; 6:14; 8:11; Eze 13:10
  43. ^ De 29:19; Je 3:17
  44. ^ Am 9:10; Mc 3:11
  45. ^ Ps 25:14; 89:7; Je 23:22
  46. ^ Am 3:7
  47. ^ 2Ch 33:10
  48. ^ Is 5:25; Je 25:32
  49. ^ Jg 9:57; 1Sa 25:39; Ne 4:4; Je 30:23; Jl 3:7; Ob 15
  50. ^ Le 26:28; Zc 8:14
  51. ^ Je 30:24
  52. ^ 1Ki 8:47
  53. ^ Je 14:14; 27:15; 29:9
  54. ^ Jb 29:4; Ps 15:1; 25:14; Je 23:18
  55. ^ Je 25:5; 29:23
  56. ^ Ps 113:6; Ac 17:27
  57. ^ Ge 16:13; Ps 90:8; 139:7; Pr 15:3; Am 9:2; Heb 4:13
  58. ^ Ps 139:7; Is 66:1
  59. ^ Je 29:23
  60. ^ De 13:1; 18:20; Je 27:9; Zc 10:2
  61. ^ Je 14:14; 17:9
  62. ^ De 13:2; Ac 13:8
  63. ^ Jg 3:7; 2Ki 21:3
  64. ^ Pr 14:5; Lu 12:42; 2Co 2:17
  65. ^ Is 41:16; Lu 3:17; 1Co 3:13
  66. ^ Is 30:27; Je 5:14; 20:9
  67. ^ Heb 4:12
  68. ^ De 18:20; Je 14:15; Eze 13:2; Mt 24:24
  69. ^ 2Sa 15:6; Ps 50:17
  70. ^ Eze 13:7
  71. ^ De 13:1; 18:20; Zc 10:2
  72. ^ Zp 3:4
  73. ^ Je 7:8; La 2:14; Mt 15:14
  74. ^ Je 17:15; Hab 1:1; Ml 1:1
  75. ^ Nu 11:14
  76. ^ De 31:17; Je 12:7; Ho 9:12
  77. ^ Mc 7:4
  78. ^ Je 31:34; Heb 8:11
  79. ^ Ex 19:8; 1Ch 9:33
  80. ^ Ne 13:18
  81. ^ Jg 17:6
  82. ^ Je 2:21, 36
  83. ^ Eze 18:25
  84. ^ De 31:17; Ho 4:6
  85. ^ Je 23:33; La 5:20
  86. ^ Je 20:11; 24:9; 42:18; Da 9:16

Read Jeremiah Chapter 23 in other Bible versions:

Comments

  1. Kiamia DoelKiamia Doel
    Jan 9, 2025 23:00 GMT

    The NWT adds words to the text that are not in the greek Manuscripts to fit it's own doctrinal position for example

    Compare the wording of the NWT and the NKJV at Colossians 1:15-17

    NKJV says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

    NWT says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn OF all creation;16 because by means of him all OTHER things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All OTHER things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all OTHER things,and by means of him all OTHER things were made to exist,

    The word “other” is not in the Greek but they add it Why? So they can decieve their followers into thinking that Christ was created by the Father and that he then created other things, that is not what the Greek says.

    1. SmeSme
      Feb 27, 2025 11:17 GMT

      Truth is from God and those that follow him. As for lies? John8:44

      Kiamia, I noticed you used a modern version of kjv to make your point about the nwt.

      Why didn’t you use the original kjv of col1:15?

      Is it because it disproves your point? It proves the opposite of what you wrote?

      Here is kjv col1:15 ¶” Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn OF every creature:“

      Now I appeal to your Christian nature to correct your mistake as God is watching each of us, and let us bless the God of Jesus his father.

      Kjv 1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….

  2. YanekYanek
    Dec 24, 2024 22:18 GMT

    Joshua, Jehovah’s Witnesses have never denied the deity of the Messiah in his prehuman existence. While on Earth he was fully 100% human. I do not mean he was a mere human, he was not affected by Adam’s unfaithful behavior, he was sinless.

  3. David yakubuDavid yakubu
    Oct 29, 2022 08:05 GMT

    When i do read some comments and seeing that its the same people that are supposed to be called believers but are talking ill of other denominations, it hurts. Let us all remember that We should judge not

    1. jonas smithjonas smith
      Apr 23, 2023 02:57 GMT

      The bible tells us to test the spirits. Satan disguises himself as angel of light. So yes some denomination are not teaching the truth. You are responsible for judging which ones are not. You have to judge the truth at all times. this is what the bible teaches

  4. THTH
    Apr 7, 2021 00:20 GMT

    The NWT is a very good translation. Dr. Jason David BeDuhn PhD attests to that in his book Truth in Translation. drive.google.com/...5p16melHzg8/view

    1. James LernerJames Lerner
      Jul 20, 2024 09:48 GMT

      The NWT is Satanic filth to its very core.

      The JW Cult is Satanic to its very core.

      Praise Yahweh I will never be a victim of JW brainwashing. If I burn in Hell for eternity or I am ultimately annihilated so be it

      May Yahweh's curse rest on the Watchtower Society and its Satanic leadership

    2. jim mcleodjim mcleod
      Aug 22, 2021 06:16 GMT

      NWT is a false translation that takes away from the deity of Jesus !

  5. SlightlyChaoticSlightlyChaotic
    Jan 30, 2021 16:33 GMT

    Thank you for taking the time to provide this service. I like seeing the NASB on your web page in the same format as I read on paper. On other sites, the text area is smaller, and so I have to keep scrolling down to read and sometimes I lose the context. So I really appreciate the format.

    As far as the NWT, you are certainly free to do whatever you think best with your own web pages. I'd suggest that you make a note anytime you have a translation that is associated with only one denomination or church, for example:
    New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness version).

    In Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. the main idea seems to be that you can't easily distinguish between God's people and not-God's people on this earth, so our Lord's response is to wait until they are shown to be the kind of people they are inside. But the NWT seems like false teaching to me. So I think the warning passages from Jesus' apostles are more applicable, as in 2 Peter 3:15-16, when he talks about Paul's writings:
    "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."
    And we also have the positive exhortations, as in 2 Timothy 2:15:
    "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

    1. BroderickBroderick
      Jan 31, 2021 00:57 GMT

      Your suggestion regarding the denominational flagging is duly noted. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t a Catholic also want “Protestant versions” marked as well?

      As for the parable, I’m pretty sure the slaves were convinced in their own minds that they could tell the tares from the wheat. After all, aren’t they the ones who identified the problem in the first place? But the master obviously thought otherwise.

      Furthermore, even at the time when Jesus himself was walking the earth, not everybody who claimed fellowship actually followed him causing John to inquire at Mark 9:39, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him . . . for he who is not against us is for us.”

  6. Joshua HarderJoshua Harder
    Dec 11, 2020 17:48 GMT

    Hello, question.. why have you included the NWT with other legitimate bible translations? Or why have you not atleast included a warning to readers? Don't you fear that someone could be influenced by the Watchtower's intentional heresies? Thank you.

    1. KevinKevin
      Jul 11, 2021 17:45 GMT

      en.m.wikipedia.org/..._Holy_Scriptures

      See the section critical review

    2. ChrisChris
      Jan 8, 2021 07:15 GMT

      Please site these intentional heresies. I am well versed in the watch tower outline and agree they are in many ways incorrect but i also bet i can point many out from EVERY established or main denomination. There is much to learn from them all as one who drinks milk?

      Judge not lest ye be judged, that is not to pass judgement on you either brother.

      I debate with scripture. I don't hold it to be true that Michael is Y'Shua HaMeshiach but I also firmly hold it to be true that our G-d and Heavenly Father are not the word encarnate and only begotten son.

      I love not seeing "lord" which i relate to baal. I feel the catholic church is a satanic establishment and I am aware a freemason started the hovies but there are evil in high places and our fight is also with principalities.

      What i'm saying is that in my darkest hours, those two were some of if not the only ones who would bring a Bible and eucharist and pray with me.

      We all fall short of the glory of G-d.

      Don't forget the NWT was recognized as the most accurate translation on Jeopardy.

      Lastly, this is different I noted than the NWT i have read and am very familiar with. Pull up the watchtower page and compare. I truly look forward to getting this one!

  7. julietjuliet
    Aug 17, 2022 09:36 GMT

    the sky is blue

  8. mercymercy
    Aug 12, 2022 21:23 GMT

    i am Mercy, the sky is blue what else do you need

    1. mercymercy
      Aug 12, 2022 21:25 GMT

      i am so sorry, it was a big mistake

  9. God is able to do all thingsGod is able to do all things
    May 17, 2021 17:59 GMT

    Jesus how much love calling yo name

  10. EmpiralEmpiral
    Jul 4, 2025 19:06 GMT

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