Woe to the false prophets

1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, prophesy13.2 Gk: Heb who prophesy and say to those who prophesy out of their own minds: ‘Hear the word of the LORD!’ 3Thus says the Lord GOD, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! 4Your prophets have been like foxes among ruins, O Israel. 5You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the LORD. 6They have spoken falsehood and divined a lie; they say, ‘says the LORD,’ when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfil their word. 7Have you not seen a delusive vision, and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘says the LORD,’ although I have not spoken?”

8Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Because you have uttered delusions and seen lies, therefore behold, I am against you, says the Lord GOD. 9My hand will be against the prophets who see delusive visions and who give lying divinations; they shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel; and you shall know that I am the Lord GOD. 10Because, yea, because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace; and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets daub it with whitewash; 11say to those who daub it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain,13.11 Heb rain and you great hailstones will fall, and a stormy wind break out; 12and when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the daubing with which you daubed it?’ 13Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I will make a stormy wind break out in my wrath; and there shall be a deluge of rain in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to destroy it. 14And I will break down the wall that you have daubed with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare; when it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it; and you shall know that I am the LORD. 15Thus will I spend my wrath upon the wall, and upon those who have daubed it with whitewash; and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who daubed it, 16the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her, when there was no peace, says the Lord GOD.

17“And you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own minds; prophesy against them 18and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the women who sew magic bands upon all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature, in the hunt for souls! Will you hunt down souls belonging to my people, and keep other souls alive for your profit? 19You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death persons who should not die and keeping alive persons who should not live, by your lies to my people, who listen to lies.

20“Wherefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against your magic bands with which you hunt the souls,13.20 Gk Syr: Heb souls for birds and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let the souls that you hunt go free13.20 Cn: Heb the souls like birds. 21Your veils also I will tear off, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand as prey; and you shall know that I am the LORD. 22Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not disheartened him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his wicked way to save his life; 23therefore you shall no more see delusive visions nor practice divination; I will deliver my people out of your hand. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”