斥責假先知

13 耶和華對我說: 「人子啊,你要說預言斥責以色列那些說預言的先知,告訴那些私自發預言的人,『你們要聽耶和華的話。 主耶和華說,愚頑的先知有禍了!他們沒有看到異象,卻私自發預言。 以色列人啊,你們的先知像廢墟中的狐狸, 沒有上去堵住缺口,也沒有重建以色列的圍牆,使以色列在耶和華的日子來臨時的爭戰中堅立。 他們的異象虛假不實,他們的預言謊話連篇。他們口口聲聲說是傳達耶和華的話,其實耶和華並沒有差遣他們。他們竟然指望自己的謊言能夠應驗。 難道你們不是見了虛假的異象,說了虛謊的預言嗎?你們說這是耶和華說的,其實我並沒有說。』」

所以主耶和華說:「因為你們的假異象和謊言,我要攻擊你們。這是主耶和華說的。 我必動手攻擊那些見假異象、說假預言的先知。他們必從我的子民當中被剔除,不被收錄在以色列人的名冊上,也不能進入以色列的土地。這樣,你們就知道我是主耶和華。 10 因為他們欺騙我的子民說,『平安!』其實並沒有平安,就像有人築了一道薄牆,用白灰加以粉飾。 11 所以,你要警告那些粉刷白灰的人,說,『牆必倒塌,暴雨要來臨,冰雹勢必降下,狂風也必大作。』 12 牆倒塌之後,一定會有人問,『你們粉飾的白灰在哪裡呢?』 13 主耶和華說,『我必在烈怒中用狂風暴雨和冰雹來摧毀這牆, 14 我必把你們粉飾的牆夷為平地,使其露出根基。牆倒塌的時候,你們必葬身其中。這樣,你們就知道我是耶和華。 15 我要向這牆和粉飾這牆的人發怒,懲罰他們。我告訴你們,這牆完了!粉飾這牆的人也完了!』 16 他們就是那些向耶路撒冷說假預言,在沒有平安的時候宣稱看到了平安異象的以色列先知。這是主耶和華說的。」

17 「人子啊,你要說預言斥責你同胞中私自發預言的女子, 18 告訴她們主耶和華這樣說,『你們這些婦女有禍了!你們為了獵取人命,給人縫製戴在手腕上的符咒和各種尺寸的頭巾。你們獵取我子民的性命,還想保住自己的性命嗎? 19 你們為了幾把大麥和幾塊餅,在我的子民中褻瀆我,向那些肯聽謊言的說謊,殺死那些不該死的,救活那些不該活的。』

20 「所以主耶和華說,『你們用符咒獵取人命如同捕鳥,我要除去你們的符咒,從你們手臂上扯掉它們,釋放你們所獵取的人。 21 我還要撕去你們的頭巾,把我的子民從你們手中拯救出來,使他們不再做你們手中的獵物。這樣,你們就知道我是耶和華。 22 我沒有使義人憂傷,你們卻以謊言叫他們灰心。你們慫恿惡人不要改邪歸正,以致他們喪命。 23 因此,你們必不再見假異象,也不再占卜。我必從你們手中拯救我的子民。這樣,你們就知道我是耶和華。』」

13 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord;

Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.

Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.

They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.

Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God.

And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.

10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:

11 Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.

12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?

13 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.

14 So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;

16 To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord God.

17 Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,

18 And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?

19 And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?

20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.

21 Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:

23 Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

False Prophets Condemned

13 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets(A) of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination:(B) ‘Hear the word of the Lord!(C) This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish[a] prophets(D) who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!(E) Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins. You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair(F) it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord.(G) Their visions are false(H) and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent(I) them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words.(J) Have you not seen false visions(K) and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken?

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you,(L) declares the Sovereign Lord. My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying(M) divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records(N) of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.(O)

10 “‘Because they lead my people astray,(P) saying, “Peace,”(Q) when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash,(R) 11 therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones(S) hurtling down,(T) and violent winds will burst forth.(U) 12 When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?”

13 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones(V) and torrents of rain(W) will fall with destructive fury.(X) 14 I will tear down the wall(Y) you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation(Z) will be laid bare. When it[b] falls,(AA) you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord. 15 So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, 16 those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.(AB)”’

17 “Now, son of man, set your face(AC) against the daughters(AD) of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them(AE) 18 and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own? 19 You have profaned(AF) me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread.(AG) By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live.(AH)

20 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds.(AI) 21 I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(AJ) 22 Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies,(AK) when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives,(AL) 23 therefore you will no longer see false visions(AM) or practice divination.(AN) I will save(AO) my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.(AP)’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 13:3 Or wicked
  2. Ezekiel 13:14 Or the city

Woe to Foolish Prophets

13 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy (A)against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to (B)those who prophesy out of their own (C)heart,[a] ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ ”

Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen [b]nothing! O Israel, your prophets are (D)like foxes in the deserts. You (E)have not gone up into the [c]gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the Lord. (F)They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord!’ But the Lord has (G)not sent them; yet they hope that the word may [d]be confirmed. Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, ‘The Lord says,’ but I have not spoken.”

Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you,” says the Lord God. “My hand will be (H)against the prophets who envision futility and who (I)divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, (J)nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, (K)nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. (L)Then you shall know that I am the Lord God.

10 “Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, (M)‘Peace!’ when there is no peace—and one builds a wall, and they (N)plaster[e] it with untempered mortar 11 say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. (O)There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it down. 12 Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the mortar with which you plastered it?’ ”

13 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “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 consume it. 14 So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, 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. (P)Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

15 “Thus will I accomplish My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it with untempered mortar; and I will say to you, ‘The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it, 16 that is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who (Q)see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,’ ” says the Lord God.

17 “Likewise, son of man, (R)set your face against the daughters of your people, (S)who prophesy out of their own [f]heart; prophesy against them, 18 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the women who sew magic charms [g]on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you (T)hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive? 19 And will you profane Me among My people (U)for 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 Lord God: “Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls there like [h]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. (V)Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

22 “Because with (W)lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have (X)strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life. 23 Therefore (Y)you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 13:2 Inspiration
  2. Ezekiel 13:3 No vision
  3. Ezekiel 13:5 breaches
  4. Ezekiel 13:6 Come true
  5. Ezekiel 13:10 Or whitewash
  6. Ezekiel 13:17 Inspiration
  7. Ezekiel 13:18 Lit. over all the joints of My hands; Vg. under every elbow; LXX, Tg. on all elbows of the hands
  8. Ezekiel 13:20 Lit. flying ones