Ezekiel Speaks Against False Prophets

13 The ·Lord spoke his word [^Lword of the Lord came] to me, saying: ² “·Human [^TSon of man; 2:1], prophesy against the prophets of Israel. Say to those who ·make up their own prophecies [prophesy from their hearts/imagination]: ‘Listen to the word of the Lord. ³ This is what the Lord God says: ·How terrible it will be for [^LWoe to] the foolish prophets who follow their own ·ideas [^Lspirit] and have ·not seen a vision from me [^Lseen nothing]! ⁴ People of Israel, your prophets have been like ·wild dogs [jackals] among ruins. ⁵ You have not gone up into the ·broken places [breaches] or repaired the wall for the ·nation [^Lhouse of] Israel [^CIsrael is portrayed as a house or fortress in ruins]. So how can Israel ·hold back the enemy [stand firm] in the battle on the ·Lord’s day of judging [^LDay of the Lord]? ⁶ ·Your prophets [^LThey] see false visions and ·prophesy [their divinations are] lies. They say, “This is the message of the Lord,” when the Lord has not sent them. But they still hope their words will ·come true [stand]. ⁷ You said, “This is the message of the Lord,” but ·you have seen false visions and your prophecies are lies [^Lhave you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination…?], because I have not spoken.

⁸ “‘So this is what the Lord God says: Because you prophets spoke things that are false and saw ·visions that do not come true [lying visions], [^Llook; ^Tbehold] I am against you, says the Lord God. ⁹ ·I will punish [^LMy hand will be against] the prophets who see false visions and ·prophesy lies [utter lying divinations]. They will ·have no place among [^Lnot be in the council of] my people. Their names will not be written on the ·list [records; registry] of the ·people [^Lhouse] of Israel, and they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord God.

¹⁰ “‘It is because they lead my people ·the wrong way [astray] by saying, “Peace!” when there is no peace. When the people build a ·weak [flimsy] wall, the prophets cover it with whitewash [^Cto make it look strong or to cover its flaws]. ¹¹ So tell those who cover ·a weak wall [^Lit] with whitewash that it will fall down. ·Rain will pour down [There will be a deluge of rain], hailstones will fall, and a windstorm will break the wall down. ¹² When the wall has fallen, people will ask you, “Where is the whitewash you used on the wall?”

¹³ “‘So this is what the Lord God says: I will break the wall with a windstorm. In my ·anger [wrath; rage] ·rain will pour down [there will be a deluge of rain], and hailstones will ·destroy the wall [fall with destructive fury]. ¹⁴ I will tear down the wall on which you put whitewash. I will level it to the ground so that ·people will see the wall’s foundation [^Lits foundations will be laid bare/exposed]. And when the wall falls, you will ·be destroyed [perish] ·under [or within] it. Then you will know that I am the Lord. ¹⁵ So I will ·carry out my anger [spend my wrath/rage] on the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. Then I will tell you, “The wall is gone, and those who covered it with whitewash are gone. ¹⁶ The prophets of Israel who prophesy ·to [or about] Jerusalem and who see visions of peace for the city, when there is no peace, will be gone, says the Lord God.”’

False Women Prophets

¹⁷ “Now, ·human [^Tson of man; 2:1], look toward the ·women among [^Ldaughters of] your people who ·make up their own prophecies [^Lprophesy from their own hearts/imaginations]. Prophesy against them. ¹⁸ Say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: ·How terrible it will be for [^LWoe to the] women who sew ·magic charms [^Lbands] on their wrists and make ·veils [or headbands] of every length to trap people! You ·ruin [entrap; ensnare] the ·lives [souls] of my people but ·try to [will you…?] save your own ·lives [souls]. ¹⁹ For handfuls of barley and ·pieces [scraps] of bread, you have ·dishonored [profaned; ^Critually] me among my people. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have ·killed people [put to death souls] who should not die, and you have kept alive those who should not live.

²⁰ “‘So this is what the Lord God says: I am against your magic ·charms [bands], by which you ·trap [ensnare; hunt] ·people [souls] as if they were birds. I will tear ·those charms [^Lthem] off your arms, and I will free those ·people [souls] you have ·trapped [ensnare; hunt] like birds. ²¹ I will also tear off your ·veils [or headbands] and save my people from your hands. They will no longer be ·trapped by your power [^Lprey in your hand]. Then you will know that I am the Lord. ²² By your lies you have ·caused those who did right to be sad [disheartened the righteous], when I did not ·make them sad [grieve them]. And you have encouraged the wicked not to ·stop being wicked [turn from their wicked ways], which would have saved their lives. ²³ So you will not see false visions or ·prophesy [practice divination] anymore, and I will save my people from your ·power [^Lhands] so you will know that I am the Lord.’”