CHAPTER 13
“Son
of man,
prophesy
against
the prophets
of Israel
who are now prophesying.
Tell
those who prophesy
out of their own imagination:
‘Hear
the word
of the LORD!
This is what
the Lord
GOD
says:
Woe
to
the foolish
prophets
who
follow
their own spirit,
yet have seen
nothing.
You did not
go up
to the gaps
or restore
the wall
around
the house
of Israel
so that it would stand
in the battle
on the Day
of the LORD.
They see
false visions
and speak lying
divinations.
They claim,
“Thus declares
the LORD,”
when the LORD
did not
send them;
yet they wait
for the fulfillment
of their message.
Have you not
seen
a false
vision
and spoken
a lying
divination
when you proclaimed,
“Thus declares
the LORD,”
even though I
had not
spoken?’
Therefore
this is what
the Lord
GOD
says:
‘Because
you have uttered
vain words
and seen
false visions,
I am against you,
declares
the Lord
GOD.
My hand
will be
against
the prophets
who see
false visions
and speak lying
divinations.
They will not
belong
to the council
of My people
or be recorded
in the register
of the house
of Israel,
nor will they
enter
the land
of Israel.
Then you will know
that
I
am the Lord
GOD.
Because
they have led My people
astray,
saying,
“Peace,”
when there is no
peace,
and whitewashing
any flimsy wall
that is built,
tell
those whitewashing it
that it will fall.
Rain
will come
in torrents,
I will send hailstones
plunging down,
and a windstorm
will burst forth.
Surely
when the wall
has fallen,
you will not
be asked,
“Where
is the whitewash
with which
you covered it?”’
Therefore
this is what
the Lord
GOD
says:
‘In My wrath
I will release
a windstorm,
and in My anger
torrents
of rain
and hail
will fall
with destructive
fury.
I will tear down
the wall
you whitewashed
and level
it to
the ground,
so that its foundation
is exposed.
The city will fall,
and you will be destroyed
within it.
Then you will know
that
I
am the LORD.
And after I have vented
My wrath
against the wall
and against those who have whitewashed i
I will say
to you:
“The wall
is no more
and neither
are those who whitewashed
it—
those prophets
of Israel
who prophesied
to
Jerusalem
and saw
a vision
of peace
for her
when there was no
peace,
declares
the Lord
GOD.”’
Now,
O son
of man,
set
your face
against
the daughters
of your people
who prophesy
out of their own imagination.
Prophesy
against them
and tell them that
this is what
the Lord
GOD
says:
‘Woe
to the women who sew
magic charms
on
their wrists
and make
veils
for
the heads
of people of every
height,
in order to ensnare
their souls.
Will you ensnare
the souls
of My people
but preserve your own?
You have profaned
Me
among
My people
for handfuls
of barley
and scraps
of bread.
By lying
to My people
who would listen,
you have killed
those
who
should not
have died
and spared
those
who
should not
have lived.'
Therefore,
this is what
the Lord
GOD
says:
‘See,
I am against
the magic charms
with which
you
ensnare
souls
like birds,
and I will tear
them
from
your arms.
I will free
the souls
you
have ensnared.
I will also tear off
your veils
and deliver
My people
from your hands,
so that they will no
longer
be
prey
in your hands.
Then you will know
that
I
am the LORD.
Because
you have disheartened
the righteous
with your lies,
even though I
have caused them no grief,
and because you have encouraged
the wicked
not
to turn
from their evil
ways
to save their lives,
therefore
you will no
longer
see
false visions
or practice
divination.
I will deliver
My people
from your hands.
Then you will know
that
I
am the LORD.’”