Ezekiel 13

1 And there is a word of YHWH to me, saying,

The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, prophesy concerning the prophets of Israel who are prophesying, and you have said to those prophesying from their own heart, Hear a word of YHWH!

“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the LORD’s word:

3 Thus said Lord YHWH: Woe to the prophets who are foolish, Who are going after their own spirit, And they have seen nothing.

The Lord GOD says, “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

4 Your prophets have been As foxes in the wasteland, O Israel.

Israel, your prophets have been like foxes in the waste places.

5 You have not gone up into breaches, Nor do you make a wall for the house of Israel, To stand in battle in a day of YHWH.

You have not gone up into the gaps or built up the wall for the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in the LORD’s day.

6 They have seen vanity, and lying divination, Who are saying: A declaration of YHWH, And YHWH has not sent them, And they have hoped to establish a word.

They have seen falsehood and lying divination, who say, ‘The LORD says;’ but the LORD has not sent them. They have made men to hope that the word would be confirmed.

7 Have you not seen a vain vision, And spoken a lying divination, When you say, A declaration of YHWH, And I have not spoken?

Haven’t you seen a false vision, and haven’t you spoken a lying divination, in that you say, ‘The LORD says;’ but I have not spoken?”

8 Therefore, thus said Lord YHWH: Because you have spoken vanity, and seen a lie, Therefore, behold, I [am] against you, A declaration of Lord YHWH.

“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you,” says the Lord GOD.

9 And My hand has been on the prophets, Who are seeing vanity, and who are divining a lie, They are not in the assembly of My people, And they are not written in the writing of the house of Israel, And they do not come to the ground of Israel, And you have known that I [am] Lord YHWH.

“My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who utter lying divinations. They will not be in the council of my people, neither will they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither will they enter into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.”

10 Because, even because, they caused My people to err, Saying, Peace! And there is no peace, And that one is building a wall, And behold, they are coating it with chalk.

“‘Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, “Peace;” and there is no peace. When one builds up a wall, behold, they plaster it with whitewash.

11 Say to those coating with chalk—It falls, There has been an overflowing shower, And you, O hailstones, fall, And a turbulent wind breaks out,

Tell those who plaster it with whitewash that it will fall. There will be an overflowing shower; and you, great hailstones, will fall. A stormy wind will tear it.

12 And behold, the wall has fallen! Does one not say to you, Where [is] the coating that you coated?

Behold, when the wall has fallen, won’t it be said to you, “Where is the plaster with which you have plastered it?”

13 Therefore, thus said Lord YHWH: I have broken with a turbulent wind in My fury, And an overflowing shower is in My anger, And hailstones in My fury—to consume.

“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “I will even tear it with a stormy wind in my wrath. There will be an overflowing shower in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to consume it.

14 And I have broken down the wall that you coated with chalk, And have caused it to come to the earth, And its foundation has been revealed, And it has fallen, And you have been consumed in its midst, And you have known that I [am] YHWH.

So I will break down the wall that you have plastered with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered. It will fall, and you will be consumed in the middle of it. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

15 And I have completed My wrath on the wall, And on those coating it with chalk, And I say to you: The wall is not, And those coating it are not,

Thus I will accomplish my wrath on the wall, and on those who have plastered it with whitewash. I will tell you, ‘The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it—

16 [These]—the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying concerning Jerusalem, And who are seeing a vision of peace for her, And there is no peace, A declaration of Lord YHWH.

to wit, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace,’” says the Lord GOD.’”

17 And you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who are prophesying out of their own heart, and prophesy concerning them,

You, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy against them,

18 And you have said, Thus said Lord YHWH: Woe to those sowing [magic] bands for all joints of the arm, And to those making the veils For the head of every stature—to hunt souls, Do you hunt the souls of My people? And do your souls that live remain alive?

and say, “The Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all elbows and make veils for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people and save souls alive for yourselves?

19 Indeed, you pierce Me concerning My people, For handfuls of barley, And for pieces of bread, To put to death souls that should not die, And to keep alive souls that should not live, By your lying to My people—listening to lies.

You have profaned me amongst my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies.’

20 Therefore, thus said Lord YHWH: Behold, I [am] against your [magic] bands, With which you are hunting there the souls of the flourishing, And I have torn them from off your arms, And have sent away the souls that you are hunting, The souls of the flourishing.

“Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against your magic bands, with which you hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms. I will let the souls fly free, even the souls whom you ensnare like birds.

21 And I have torn your veils, And delivered My people out of your hand, And they are no longer for a prey in your hand, And you have known that I [am] YHWH.

I will also tear your veils and deliver my people out of your hand; and they will no longer be in your hand to be ensnared. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

22 Because of paining the heart of the righteous with falsehood, And I have not pained it, And strengthening the hands of the wicked, So as not to turn [him] back from his evil way, To keep him alive,

Because with lies you have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, and be saved alive.

23 Therefore, you do not see vanity, And you do not divine divination again, And I have delivered My people out of your hand, And you have known that I [am] YHWH!”

Therefore you shall no more see false visions nor practise divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”