¹¹ Now Zedekiah^(A) son of Kenaanah had made iron horns^(B) and he declared, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.’”

Four Horns and Four Craftsmen

¹⁸ Then I looked up, and there before me were four horns. ¹⁹ I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?”

He answered me, “These are the horns^(A) that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”

²⁰ Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. ²¹ I asked, “What are these coming to do?”

He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns^(B) against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”^[a](C)

⁸ Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,^(A) so also these teachers oppose^(B) the truth. They are men of depraved minds,^(C) who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.

¹³ For such people are false apostles,^(A) deceitful^(B) workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.^{(C) 14} And no wonder, for Satan^(D) himself masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.^(E)

¹³ Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits^(A) tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus^(B) whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” ¹⁴ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵ One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” ¹⁶ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

²⁷ Her officials^(A) within her are like wolves^(B) tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people^(C) to make unjust gain.^{(D) 28} Her prophets whitewash^(E) these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations.^(F) They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken.^(G)

⁶ Their visions are false^(A) and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent^(B) them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words.^{(C) 7} Have you not seen false visions^(D) and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken?

⁸ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you,^(E) declares the Sovereign Lord. ⁹ My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying^(F) divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records^(G) of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.^(H)