Lamentations 2:14

THE MESSAGE

Your prophets courted you with sweet talk. They didn't face you with your sin so that you could repent. Their sermons were all wishful thinking, deceptive illusions.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Your prophets saw visions for youthat were empty and deceptive;they did not reveal your iniquityand so restore your fortunes.They saw pronouncements for youthat were empty and misleading.

Hebrew Names Version
Your prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions; They have not uncovered your iniquity, to bring back your captivity, But have seen for you false oracles and causes of banishment.

King James Version
Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.

English Standard Version
Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading.

New American Standard Bible
Your prophets have seen for you Worthless and deceptive visions; And they have not exposed your wrongdoing So as to restore you from captivity, But they have seen for you worthless and misleading pronouncements.

New Century Version
Your prophets saw visions, but they were false and worth nothing. They did not point out your sins to keep you from being captured. They preached what was false and led you wrongly.

Amplified Bible
Your prophets have seen (imagined) for you False and foolish visions; And they have not exposed your wickedness To restore you from captivity [by teaching you to repent], But they have seen (imagined) and declared to you false and misleading oracles.

World English Bible
Your prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions; They have not uncovered your iniquity, to bring back your captivity, But have seen for you false oracles and causes of banishment.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Thy Prophets haue looked out vayne, & foolish things for thee, and they haue not discouered thine iniquitie, to turne away thy captiuitie, but haue looked out for thee false prophesies, & causes of banishment.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Your prophets have seen for you False and foolish visions; And they have not exposed your iniquity So as to restore you from captivity, But they have seen for you false and misleading oracles.

Legacy Standard Bible
Your prophets have beheld for youWorthless and ineffective visions;And they have not uncovered your iniquitySo as to return you from captivity,But they have beheld for you worthless and misleading oracles.

Berean Standard Bible
The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The oracles they saw for you were empty and misleading.

Contemporary English Version
Your prophets deceived you with false visions and lying messages— they should have warned you to leave your sins and be saved from disaster.

Complete Jewish Bible
The visions your prophets saw for you were futile, just a whitewash. They did not expose your guilt, so as to reverse your fortunes — no, the visions they saw for you were alluring, but futile.

Darby Translation
Thy prophets have seen vanity and folly for thee; and they have not revealed thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee burdens of falsehood and causes of expulsion.

Easy-to-Read Version
Your prophets saw visions for you, but their visions were only worthless lies. They didn't speak against your sins. They didn't try to make things better. They spoke messages for you, but they were false messages that fooled you.

George Lamsa Translation
Your prophets have seen false and deceptive visions for you; and they have not revealed to you anything of your sins, that you might repent and I should bring you back from captivity; but have seen for you false and deceptive prophecies.

Good News Translation
Your prophets had nothing to tell you but lies; Their preaching deceived you by never exposing your sin. They made you think you did not need to repent.

Lexham English Bible
Your prophets had a vision for you, false and worthless; they have not exposed your sin, to restore your fortune; they have seen oracles for you, false and misleading.

Literal Translation
Your prophets have seen false and foolish things for you; and they have not revealed your iniquity in order to turn back your captivity. Yea, they visioned for you burdens of falsehood and seductions.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thy prophetes haue loked out vayne & folish thinges for the, they haue not shewed the of thy wickednesse, to kepe the from captiuyte: but haue ouerladen the, and thorow falsede scatred the abrode.

American Standard Version
Thy prophets have seen for thee false and foolish visions; And they have not uncovered thine iniquity, to bring back thy captivity, But have seen for thee false oracles and causes of banishment.

Bible in Basic English
The visions which your prophets have seen for you are false and foolish; they have not made clear to you your sin so that your fate might be changed: but they have seen for you false words, driving you away.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Thy prophets have seen visions for thee of vanity and delusion; and they have not uncovered thine iniquity, to bring back thy captivity; but have prophesied for thee burdens of vanity and seduction.

King James Version (1611)
Thy Prophets haue seene vaine and foolish things for thee, and they haue not discouered thine iniquitie, to turne away thy captiuitie: but haue seene for thee false burdens, and causes of banishment.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thy prophetes haue looke dout vayne and foolish thinges for thee, they haue not shewed thee of thy wickednesse, to kepe thee from captiuitie: but they haue seene out for thee burthens of vanitie and banishment.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
NUN. Thy prophets have seen for thee vanities and folly: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn back thy captivity; but they have seen for thee vain burdens, and worthless visions.

English Revised Version
Thy prophets have seen visions for thee of vanity and foolishness; and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to bring again thy captivity: but have seen for thee burdens of vanity and causes of banishment.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Nun. Thi profetis sien to thee false thingis, and fonned; and openyden not thi wickidnesse, that thei schulden stire thee to penaunce; but thei sien to thee false takyngis, and castyngis out.

Update Bible Version
Your prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions; And they have not uncovered your iniquity, to bring back your captivity, But have seen for you false oracles and causes of banishment.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not revealed thy iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.

New English Translation

נ (Nun)

Your prophets saw visions for you that were worthless lies. They failed to expose your sin so as to restore your fortunes. They saw oracles for you that were worthless lies.

New King James Version
Your prophets have seen for you False and deceptive visions; They have not uncovered your iniquity, To bring back your captives, But have envisioned for you false prophecies and delusions.

New Living Translation
Your prophets have said so many foolish things, false to the core. They did not save you from exile by pointing out your sins. Instead, they painted false pictures, filling you with false hope.

New Life Bible
Your men who speak in God's name have given you false and foolish dreams. They have not made your sin known, so you could return from where you are held. But they have told you false dreams that have led you the wrong way.

New Revised Standard
Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen oracles for you that are false and misleading.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thy prophets, have had visions for thee, false and foolish, and have not unveiled thine iniquity, to turn back thy captivity, - Yea they have had visions for thee, oracles of falsehood, and enticements!

Douay-Rheims Bible
Nun. Thy prophets have seen false and foolish things for thee: and they have not laid open thy iniquity, to excite thee to penance: but they have seen for thee false revelations and banishments.

Revised Standard Version
Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles false and misleading.

Young's Literal Translation
Thy prophets have seen for thee a false and insipid thing, And have not revealed concerning thine iniquity, To turn back thy captivity, And they see for thee false burdens and causes of expulsion.

Contextual Overview

¹⁰ The elders of Daughter Zion sit silent on the ground. They throw dust on their heads, dress in rough penitential burlap— the young virgins of Jerusalem, their faces creased with the dirt. ¹¹ My eyes are blind with tears, my stomach in a knot. My insides have turned to jelly over my people's fate. Babies and children are fainting all over the place, ¹² Calling to their mothers, "I'm hungry! I'm thirsty!" then fainting like dying soldiers in the streets, breathing their last in their mothers' laps. ¹³ How can I understand your plight, dear Jerusalem? What can I say to give you comfort, dear Zion? Who can put you together again? This bust-up is past understanding. ¹⁴ Your prophets courted you with sweet talk. They didn't face you with your sin so that you could repent. Their sermons were all wishful thinking, deceptive illusions. ¹⁵ Astonished, passersby can't believe what they see. They rub their eyes, they shake their heads over Jerusalem. Is this the city voted "Most Beautiful" and "Best Place to Live"? ¹⁶ But now your enemies gape, slack-jawed. Then they rub their hands in glee: "We've got them! We've been waiting for this! Here it is!" ¹⁷ God did carry out, item by item, exactly what he said he'd do. He always said he'd do this. Now he's done it—torn the place down. He's let your enemies walk all over you, declared them world champions! ¹⁸ Give out heart-cries to the Master, dear repentant Zion. Let the tears roll like a river, day and night, and keep at it—no time-outs. Keep those tears flowing! ¹⁹ As each night watch begins, get up and cry out in prayer. Pour your heart out face-to-face with the Master. Lift high your hands. Beg for the lives of your children who are starving to death out on the streets.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

prophets: Isaiah 9:15, Isaiah 9:16, Jeremiah 2:8, Jeremiah 5:31, Jeremiah 6:13, Jeremiah 6:14, Jeremiah 8:10, Jeremiah 8:11, Jeremiah 14:13-15, Jeremiah 23:11-17, Jeremiah 27:14-16, Jeremiah 28:15, Jeremiah 29:8, Jeremiah 29:9, Jeremiah 37:19, Ezekiel 13:2-16, Micah 2:11, Micah 3:5-7, 2 Peter 2:1-3

they have: Isaiah 58:1, Jeremiah 23:22, Ezekiel 13:22

false: Jeremiah 23:14-17, Jeremiah 23:31, Jeremiah 23:32, Jeremiah 27:9, Jeremiah 27:10, Ezekiel 22:25, Ezekiel 22:28, Micah 3:5, Zephaniah 3:4

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 14:14 - and the Jeremiah 20:6 - thy friends Jeremiah 23:17 - Ye Jeremiah 28:13 - Thou hast Jeremiah 29:21 - which Lamentations 4:13 - the sins Ezekiel 12:24 - General Ezekiel 13:3 - foolish Ezekiel 13:5 - gaps Ezekiel 13:6 - have seen Ezekiel 13:12 - Where Ezekiel 21:29 - to bring Hosea 9:7 - the prophet Hosea 9:8 - but Zechariah 10:2 - the diviners Zechariah 11:15 - a foolish Zechariah 12:1 - burden Ephesians 5:13 - reproved

Cross-References

Genesis 10:22
The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

Daniel 10:4
"On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris. I looked up and to my surprise saw a man dressed in linen with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body was hard and glistening, as if sculpted from a precious stone, his face radiant, his eyes bright and penetrating like torches, his arms and feet glistening like polished bronze, and his voice, deep and resonant, sounded like a huge choir of voices.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee,.... Not the prophets of the Lord; but false prophets, as the Targum; which were of the people's choosing, and were acceptable to them; prophets after their own hearts, because they prophesied smooth things, such as they liked; though in the issue they proved "vain" and "foolish", idle stories, impertinent talk, the fictions of their own brains; and yet they pretended to have visions of them from the Lord; as that within two years Jeconiah, and all the vessels of the temple carried away by the king of Babylon, should be returned; and that he would not come against Jerusalem, nor should it be delivered into his hands; see

Jeremiah 28:2;

and they have not discovered thine iniquity: they did not tell them of their sins; they took no pains to convince them of them, but connived at them; instead of reproving them for them, they soothed them in them; they did not "remove" the covering that was "over [their] iniquity" u, as it might be rendered; which they might easily have done, and laid their sirs to open view: whereby they might have been ashamed of them, and brought to repentance for them. The Targum is,

"neither have they manifested the punishment that should come upon thee for thy sins;''

but, on the contrary, told them it should not come upon them; had they dealt faithfully with them, by showing them their transgressions, and the consequences of them, they might have been a means of preventing their ruin: and, as it here follows,

to turn away thy captivity; either to turn them from their backslidings and wanderings about, as Jarchi; or to turn them by repentance, as the Targum; or to prevent their going into captivity:

but have seen for thee false burdens, and causes of banishment; that is, false prophecies against Babylon, and in favour of the Jews; prophecies, even those that are true, being often called "burdens", as the "burden of Egypt", and "the burden of Damascus", c. and the rather this name is here given to those false prophecies because the prophecies of Jeremiah were reproached by them with it, Jeremiah 23:33, c. and because these proved in the issue burdensome, sad, and sorrowful ones though they once tickled and pleased and were the cause of the people's going into exile and captivity they listening to them: or they were "depulsions" or "expulsions" w drivings, that drove them from the right way; from God and his worship; from his word and prophets; and, at last, the means of driving them out of their own land; of impelling them to sin, and so of expelling them from their own country. The Targum renders it,

"words of error.''

u ולא גלו על עונך "et non revelarunt [legmen] pravitati tuae impositum", Christ. Ben. Miehaelis. w ומדוחים και εξωσματα, Sept. "et expulsiones", Montanus, Vatablus, Calvin; "et ad depulsionem spectantium", Junius Tremellius "depulsiones, expulsiones", Stockius, p. 649.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee - The Septuagint and Vulgate give the true meaning, “stupidity” (see Jeremiah 23:13 note).

To turn away thy captivity - The right sense is, “They have not disclosed to thee thy sins, that so thou mightest repent, and I might have turned away thy captivity.”

Burdens - Applied contemptuously to predictions which proved “false” or “empty,” i. e. failed of accomplishment. On the deduction to be drawn from this, see Jeremiah 28:9.

Causes of banishment - The result of the teaching of the false prophets would be that God would “drive out” the Jews from their land.

Some render the words “false ... banishment” by “oracles of falsehood and seduction.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. They have not discovered thine iniquity — They did not reprove for sin, they flattered them in their transgressions; and instead of turning away thy captivity, by turning thee from thy sins, they have pretended visions of good in thy favour, and false burdens for thy enemies.