⁵ So the king of Israel brought together the prophets—four hundred men—and asked them, “Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I not?”

“Go,” they answered, “for God will give it into the king’s hand.”

²⁰ But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet^(A) who had performed the signs^(B) on its behalf.^(C) With these signs he had deluded^(D) those who had received the mark of the beast^(E) and worshiped its image.^(F) The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake^(G) of burning sulfur.^(H)

³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.^(A) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.^(B)

²² Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies,^(A) 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,^(B)

³ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish^[a] prophets^(A) who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!^{(B) 4} Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins. ⁵ You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair^(C) it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord.^{(D) 6} Their visions are false^(E) and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent^(F) them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words.^{(G) 7} Have you not seen false visions^(H) 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,^(I) declares the Sovereign Lord. ⁹ My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying^(J) divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records^(K) of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.^(L)

¹⁰ “‘Because they lead my people astray,^(M) saying, “Peace,”^(N) when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash,^{(O) 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^(P) hurtling down,^(Q) and violent winds will burst forth.^{(R) 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^(S) and torrents of rain^(T) will fall with destructive fury.^{(U) 14} I will tear down the wall^(V) you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation^(W) will be laid bare. When it^[b] falls,^(X) 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.^(Y)”’

²⁰ that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.’^(A)

² Jeremiah the prophet and said to him, “Please hear our petition and pray^(A) to the Lord your God for this entire remnant.^(B) For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few^(C) are left. ³ Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.”^(D)