^4 (A)They will say, “Where is the promise of ^(B)his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

The Messenger of the Lord

^17 (A)You have wearied the Lord with your words. ^(B)But you say, “How have we wearied him?” ^(C)By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, ^(D)“Where is the God of justice?”

⁴⁵ But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master ^(A)is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and ^(B)get drunk,

¹¹ Because ^(A)the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, ^(B)the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

⁴⁸ But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master ^(A)is delayed,’

²² “Son of man, ^(A)what is this proverb that you^[a] have about the land of Israel, saying, ^(B)‘The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing’? ²³ Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, ^(C)The days are near, and the fulfillment^[b] of every vision. ^24 (D)For there shall be no more any ^(E)false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. ²⁵ For I am the Lord; I will speak ^(F)the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. ^(G)It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, ^(H)O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord God.”

²⁶ And the word of the Lord came to me: ²⁷ “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ^(I)‘The vision that he sees is ^(J)for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’