33 "When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, 'What is the oracle4 23:33 Or burden (see Septuagint and Vulgate) of the LORD ?' say to them, 'What oracle?5 23:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate 'You are the burden . (The Hebrew for oracle and burden is the same.) I will forsake you, declares the LORD .' |
34 If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, 'This is the oracle of the LORD ,' I will punish that man and his household. |
35 This is what each of you keeps on saying to his friend or relative: 'What is the LORD's answer?' or 'What has the LORD spoken?' |
36 But you must not mention 'the oracle of the LORD ' again, because every man's own word becomes his oracle and so you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God. |
37 This is what you keep saying to a prophet: 'What is the LORD's answer to you?' or 'What has the LORD spoken?' |
38 Although you claim, 'This is the oracle of the LORD ,' this is what the LORD says: You used the words, 'This is the oracle of the LORD ,' even though I told you that you must not claim, 'This is the oracle of the LORD .' |
