¹⁷ “As for you, son of man, turn toward^[a] the daughters of your people who are prophesying from their imagination.^[b] Prophesy against them ¹⁸ and say ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to those who sew bands^[c] on all their wrists^[d] and make headbands^[e] for heads of every size to entrap people’s lives!^[f] Will you entrap my people’s lives, yet preserve your own lives? ¹⁹ You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. You have put to death people^[g] who should not die and kept alive those who should not live by your lies to my people, who listen to lies!

²⁰ “‘Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Take note^[h] that I am against your wristbands with which you entrap people’s lives^[i] like birds. I will tear them from your arms and will release the people’s lives, which you hunt like birds. ²¹ I will tear off your headbands and rescue my people from your power;^[j] they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am the Lord. ²² This is because you have disheartened the righteous person with lies (although I have not grieved him), and because you have encouraged the wicked person not to turn from his evil conduct and preserve his life. ²³ Therefore you will no longer see false visions and practice divination. I will rescue my people from your power, and you^[k] will know that I am the Lord.’”