31 Yes," declares the Lord, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, 'The Lord declares.'
31 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
31 Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who use their tongues and declare, 'declares the Lord.'
31 Yes, I've had it with them. They make up stuff and then pretend it's a real sermon.
31 Behold, I am against the prophets," says the Lord, "who use their tongues and say, 'He says.'
31 I am against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, 'This prophecy is from the Lord !'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 23:31
Commentary on Jeremiah 23:23-32
(Read Jeremiah 23:23-32)
Men cannot be hidden from God's all-seeing eye. Will they never see what judgments they prepare for themselves? Let them consider what a vast difference there is between these prophecies and those delivered by the true prophets of the Lord. Let them not call their foolish dreams Divine oracles. The promises of peace these prophets make are no more to be compared to God's promises than chaff to wheat. The unhumbled heart of man is like a rock; if not melted by the word of God as a fire, it will be broken to pieces by it as a hammer. How can they be long safe, or at all easy, who have a God of almighty power against them? The word of God is no smooth, lulling, deceitful message. And by its faithfulness it may certainly be distinguished from false doctrines.