Ezekiel 13:17-23

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

¹⁷ As for you, mortal, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imaginations; prophesy against them^{(A) 18} and say: Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the women who sew bands on all wrists and make veils for the heads of persons of every height, in the hunt for lives! Will you hunt down lives among my people and maintain your own lives?^{(B) 19} You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death those who should not die and keeping alive those who should not live, by your lies to my people, who listen to lies.^(C)

²⁰ Therefore thus says the Lord God: I am against your bands with which you hunt lives;^[a] I will tear them from your arms and let the lives go free, the lives that you hunt down like birds. ²¹ I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands; they shall no longer be prey in your hands, and you shall know that I am the Lord. ²² Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not disheartened them, and you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their wicked way and save their lives,^{(D) 23} therefore you shall no longer see false visions or practice divination; I will save my people from your hand. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^(E)