Evil Rulers to Be Judged

11 Moreover, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the Lord’s house, which faced eastward. And behold, at the entrance of the gate there were twenty-five men; and I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. ² Then the Spirit said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise evil and give wicked advice in this city, ³ who say, ‘Is not the time near to build houses? This city is [secure just like] the pot and we are the meat [in it].’ ⁴ Therefore, prophesy against them; prophesy, son of man!”

⁵ Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and He said to me, “Say, ‘Thus says the Lord, “This is what you think, house of Israel, for I know your thoughts. ⁶ You have multiplied your slain in this city, and you have filled its streets with the corpses [of righteous men].” ⁷ Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Your dead whom you have laid in the midst of your city are the meat and this city is the pot; but I shall force you out of [the security of] it. ⁸ You have feared the sword; so I will bring a sword upon you,” says the Lord God. ⁹ “And I will bring you out of the midst of the city and hand you over to strangers and execute judgment against you. ¹⁰ You will fall by the sword; I will judge and punish you [in front of your neighbors] at the border of [the land of] Israel; and you will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord. ¹¹ This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be meat [safe] in it, but I will judge you at the border of Israel. ¹² And you will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord; for you have not walked in My statutes nor have you executed My ordinances, but you have acted in accordance with the ordinances of the nations around you.”’”

¹³ Now it came about while I was prophesying, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell face downward and cried out loudly, “Alas, Lord God! Will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end?”