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’?

^3 (A)who say, ^(B)‘The time is not near^[a] to build houses. ^(C)This city is the cauldron, and we are the meat.’

² “What do you^[a] mean ^(A)by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ^(B)‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge’? ^3 (C)As I live, declares the Lord God, ^(D)this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel.

²⁷ “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ^(A)‘The vision that he sees is ^(B)for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’

³ knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come ^(A)in the last days with scoffing, ^(B)following their own sinful desires. ^4 (C)They will say, “Where is the promise of ^(D)his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

⁴⁴ “Behold, everyone ^(A)who uses proverbs will use this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’

^33 (A)“When one of this people, or a prophet or a priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the Lord?’ you shall say to them, ‘You are the burden,^[a] and ^(B)I will cast you off, declares the Lord.’ ³⁴ And as for the prophet, priest, or one of the people who says, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ ^(C)I will punish that man and his household. ³⁵ Thus shall you say, every one to his neighbor and every one to his brother, ‘What has the Lord answered?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ ³⁶ But ‘the burden of the Lord’ you shall mention no more, for the burden is every man's own word, and ^(D)you pervert the words of ^(E)the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God. ³⁷ Thus you shall say to the prophet, ‘What has the Lord answered you?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ ³⁸ But if you say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’ thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have said these words, “The burden of the Lord,” when I sent to you, saying, “You shall not say, ‘The burden of the Lord,’” ³⁹ therefore, behold, I will surely lift you up^[b] and ^(F)cast you away from my presence, you and the city that I gave to you and your fathers. ^40 (G)And I will bring upon you everlasting reproach and ^(H)perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.’”