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The Reproof of False Prophets

¹ Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,² “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: ‘Hear the word of the LORD!³ This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, yet have seen nothing.⁴ Your prophets, O Israel, are like jackals among the ruins.⁵ You did not go up to the gaps or restore the wall around the house of Israel so that it would stand in the battle on the Day of the LORD.⁶ They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, “Thus declares the LORD,” when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.⁷ Have you not seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaimed, “Thus declares the LORD,” even though I had not spoken?’⁸ Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD.⁹ My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.

¹⁰ Because they have led My people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built,¹¹ tell those whitewashing it that it will fall. Rain will come in torrents, I will send hailstones plunging down, and a windstorm will burst forth.¹² Surely when the wall has fallen, you will not be asked, “Where is the whitewash with which you covered it?”’¹³ Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘In My wrath I will release a windstorm, and in My anger torrents of rain and hail will fall with destructive fury.¹⁴ I will tear down the wall you whitewashed and level it to the ground, so that its foundation is exposed. The city will fall, and you will be destroyed within it. Then you will know that I am the LORD.¹⁵ And after I have vented My wrath against the wall and against those who have whitewashed it, I will say to you: “The wall is no more and neither are those who whitewashed it—¹⁶ those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw a vision of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Lord GOD.”’

The False Prophetesses

¹⁷ Now, O son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them¹⁸ and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their wrists and make veils for the heads of people of every height, in order to ensnare their souls. Will you ensnare the souls of My people but preserve your own?¹⁹ You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived.’²⁰ Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘See, I am against the magic charms with which you ensnare souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms. I will free the souls you have ensnared.²¹ I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people from your hands, so that they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.²² Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives,²³ therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”