Ezekiel 13

False Prophets Condemned

1 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are prophesying. Say to those who make stuff up 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 Israel, your prophets are like jackals among the ruins.

5 You have not gone up into the gaps or built a wall for the house of Israel so it could stand in battle on the day of the LORD.

6 They see empty visions and speak lies, saying, ‘The LORD declares,’ when the LORD never sent them, yet they still expect their words to come true.

7 Have you not seen false visions and spoken lying predictions when you say, ‘The LORD declares,’ even though I have not spoken,

Futility of Their Visions

8 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have spoken lies 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 be included in the council of My people or written 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 they misled My people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because when a flimsy wall is built, they coat it with whitewash,

11 tell those who whitewash it that it will fall. Flooding rain will come, hailstones will fall, and a violent wind will break out.

12 When the wall collapses, will not people ask you, ‘Where is the whitewash you spread on it?’

13 So this is what the Lord GOD says: In My rage I will unleash a violent wind, and in My anger flooding rain will fall, and hailstones will rain down in wrath to destroy.

14 I will tear down the wall you whitewashed and level it to the ground so its foundation is exposed. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it, and you will know that I am the LORD.

15 I will spend My wrath on the wall and on those who whitewashed it, and I will say to you, ‘The wall is gone, and those who whitewashed it are gone,

16 the prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace,’ declares the Lord GOD.

Judgment on False Prophetesses

17 Now you, son of man, turn your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy from their own imagination. Prophesy against them

18 and say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all wrists and make veils for heads of every size to trap lives. Will you trap the lives of My people but preserve your own lives,

19 You profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread, killing people who should not die and sparing people who should not live, by lying to My people who listen to lies.’

20 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I am against your magic bands with which you trap lives like birds. I will tear them from your arms and set free the lives you trap like birds.

21 I will also tear off your veils and rescue My people from your hands, and they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

22 Because you discouraged the righteous with lies, when I had not caused them pain, and because you 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 rescue My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”