Ezekiel 13
1 The word of the LORD came to me:
2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to the prophets who speak from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the LORD.’
3 This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!
4 Like foxes among ruins, that is what your prophets are, Israel.
5 You did not go up to the breaches or build a wall around the house of Israel, to stand firm in battle on the day of the LORD.
6 They have seen false visions and made lying predictions. They say, ‘This is the LORD’s declaration,’ though the LORD did not send them; yet they expect their words to come true.
7 Wasn’t the vision you saw false, and the prediction you made a lie, when you said, ‘This is the LORD’s declaration,’ even though I had not spoken?
8 So this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have spoken falsely and seen lies, I am against you,’ declares the Lord GOD.
9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and make lying predictions. They will not belong to the council of my people, they will not be listed in the register of the house of Israel, and they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.
10 Because, yes, because they have misled my people by saying, ‘Peace,’ when there was no peace. When someone builds a wall, they coat it with weak plaster.’
11 Tell those who coat it with weak plaster that it will fall: ‘A torrential rain will come; you, hailstones, will fall; and a storm wind will break loose.’
12 Look, the wall has fallen. Won’t people ask you, ‘Where is the plaster you used to coat it?’”
13 “So this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘In my fury I will unleash a storm wind. In my anger there will be a torrential rain, and in my wrath hailstones to destroy it.
14 I will tear down the wall you coated with weak plaster and bring it to the ground, exposing its foundation. It will fall, and you will be destroyed within it. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
15 I will pour out my fury on the wall and on those who coated it with weak plaster. Then I will say to you, “The wall is gone, and so are those who coated it.”
16 Those were the prophets of Israel who prophesied about Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace,’ declares the Lord GOD.
17 And you, son of man, turn your face toward the daughters of your people who prophesy from their own hearts, and prophesy against them.
18 Say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Woe to those who sew bands for every wrist of my hands and make veils for the heads of people of every height, to hunt down lives! Will you hunt the lives of my people and keep lives for yourselves?
19 You have profaned me before my people for handfuls of barley and pieces of bread. You have killed lives that should not die and kept alive lives that should not live, by lying to my people, who listen to lies.”
20 So this is what the Lord GOD says: “I am against your bands, with which you hunt lives as if they were birds. I will tear them from your arms and set free the lives you hunt like birds.
21 I will tear off your veils and rescue my people from your hands. They will no longer be in your hands as prey. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
22 Because with lies you have discouraged the heart of the righteous, whom I did not discourage, and strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he would not turn from his evil way and live.
23 So you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will rescue my people from your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD.”’”
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