Woe to Foolish Prophets
1 And the word of theLordcame to me, saying,
2 “Son of man, prophesyagainst the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say tothose who prophesy out of their ownheart, ‘Hear the word of theLord!’ ”
3 Thus says the LordGod: “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!
4 O Israel, your prophets arelike foxes in the deserts.
5 Youhave not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of theLord.
6 They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says theLord!’ But theLordhasnot sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed.
7 Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, ‘TheLordsays,’ but I have not spoken.”
8 Therefore thus says the LordGod: “Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore Iamindeed against you,” says the LordGod.
9 “My hand will beagainst the prophets who envision futility and whodivine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people,nor be written in the record of the house of Israel,nor shall they enter into the land of Israel.Then you shall know that Iamthe LordGod.
10 “Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying,‘Peace!’ whenthereisno peace—and one builds a wall, and theyplaster it with untemperedmortar—
11 say to those who plasteritwith untemperedmortar,that it will fall.There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tearitdown.
12 Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, ‘Whereisthe mortar with which you plasteredit?’ ”
13 Therefore thus says the LordGod: “I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger, and great hailstones in fury to consumeit.
14 So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untemperedmortar,and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it.Then you shall know that IamtheLord.
15 “Thus will I accomplish My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it with untemperedmortar;and I will say to you, ‘The wallisnomore,nor those who plastered it,
16 thatis,the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and whosee visions of peace for her whenthereisno peace,’ ” says the LordGod.
17 “Likewise, son of man,set your face against the daughters of your people,who prophesy out of their own heart; prophesy against them,
18 and say, ‘Thus says the LordGod: “Woe to thewomenwho sewmagiccharms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will youhunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive?
19 And will you profane Me among My peoplefor handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?”
20 ‘Therefore thus says the LordGod: “Behold, Iamagainst yourmagiccharms by which you hunt souls there like birds. I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go, the souls you hunt like birds.
21 I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand.Then you shall know that IamtheLord.
22 “Because withlies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you havestrengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life.
23 Thereforeyou shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that IamtheLord.” ’ ”