The Lord’s Judgment of Jerusalem Is Certain

11 Then the Spirit of the Lord lifted me up. He brought me to the east gate of the Lord’s house. There were 25 men at the entrance of the gate. I saw Jaazaniah and Pelatiah among them. They were leaders of the people. Jaazaniah is the son of Azzur. Pelatiah is the son of Benaiah. ² The Lord said to me, “Son of man, these men are making evil plans. They are giving bad advice to the city. ³ They say, ‘Haven’t our houses just been built again? The city is like a pot used for cooking. And we are the meat in it.’ ⁴ So prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man.”

⁵ Then the Spirit of the Lord came on me. He told me to tell them, “The Lord says, ‘You leaders in Israel, that is what you are saying. But I know what you are thinking. ⁶ You have killed many people in this city. In fact, you have filled its streets with dead bodies.’

⁷ “So the Lord and King says, ‘The bodies you have thrown there are the meat. And the city is the cooking pot. But I will drive you out of it. ⁸ You are afraid of the swords of war. But I will bring them against you,’ announces the Lord and King. ⁹ ‘I will drive you out of the city. I will hand you over to outsiders. And I will punish you. ¹⁰ You will be killed by swords. I will judge you at the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord. ¹¹ This city will not be a pot for you. And you will not be the meat in it. I will judge you at the borders of Israel. ¹² Then you will know that I am the Lord. You have not obeyed my rules. You have not kept my laws. Instead, you have lived by the standards of the nations around you.’ ”

¹³ Pelatiah, the son of Benaiah, died as I was prophesying. Then I fell with my face toward the ground. I cried out in a loud voice. I said, “Lord and King, will you destroy all the Israelites who are still left alive?”