²² “Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, ^(A)‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’?

² “What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying:

³ “As I live,” says the Lord God, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel.

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

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

³ knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, ^(A)walking according to their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of ^(B)creation.”

³³ “So when these people or the prophet or the priest ask you, saying, ‘What is ^(A)the ^[a]oracle of the Lord?’ you shall then say to them, ^[b]‘What oracle?’ I will even forsake you,” says the Lord. ³⁴ “And as for the prophet and the priest and the people who say, ‘The ^[c]oracle of the Lord!’ I will even punish that man and his house. ³⁵ Thus every one of you shall say to his neighbor, and every one to his brother, ‘What has the Lord answered?’ and, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ ³⁶ And the ^[d]oracle of the Lord you shall mention no more. For every man’s word will be his oracle, for you have ^(B)perverted the words of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God. ³⁷ Thus you shall say to the prophet, ‘What has the Lord answered you?’ and, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ ³⁸ But since you say, ‘The ^[e]oracle of the Lord!’ therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Because you say this word, “The oracle of the Lord!” and I have sent to you, saying, “Do not say, ‘The oracle of the Lord!’ ” ³⁹ therefore behold, I, even I, ^(C)will utterly forget you and forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and will cast you out of My presence. ⁴⁰ And I will bring ^(D)an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual ^(E)shame, which shall not be forgotten.’ ”