17 “Likewise, son of man, (A)set your face against the daughters of your people, (B)who prophesy out of their own [a]heart; prophesy against them, 18 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the women who sew magic charms [b]on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you (C)hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive? 19 And will you profane Me among My people (D)for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?”

20 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls there like [c]birds. I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go, the souls you hunt like birds. 21 I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand. (E)Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

22 “Because with (F)lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have (G)strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life. 23 Therefore (H)you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 13:17 Inspiration
  2. Ezekiel 13:18 Lit. over all the joints of My hands; Vg. under every elbow; LXX, Tg. on all elbows of the hands
  3. Ezekiel 13:20 Lit. flying ones

17 “And you, son of man,[a] place your face toward the daughters of your people who prophesy from their imagination,[b] and prophesy against them! 18 And you must say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Woe to those who sew[c] magic charm bands on all the wrists[d] of the hands of my people and those who make the veils[e] that are on the head of people of every height, to ensnare people’s lives![f] Will you ensnare the lives[g] of my people and keep yourselves alive?[h] 19 And you defiled me among my people for a handful of barley and for morsels of bread to kill persons who should not die and to keep alive persons who should not live by means of your lies to my people who are listening to your lies.”’[i] 20 Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘Look! I am against your magic charm bands with which you are ensnaring persons[j] as birds; I will tear them from your arms, and I will release the persons that you are ensnaring, treating persons as birds. 21 And I will tear off your veils, and I will deliver my people from your hand, and they will not any longer be in your hand as prey, and you will know that I am Yahweh. 22 Because you disheartened the heart of the righteous by deception, and I have not[k] caused him pain, and strengthened the hands of the wicked so that he did not turn[l] from his wicked way to save his life. 23 Therefore falseness[m] you will not see,[n] and divination you will not practice[o] any longer, and I will rescue my people from your hand, and you will know that I am Yahweh!’”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 13:17 Or “mortal,” or “son of humankind”
  2. Ezekiel 13:17 Literally “heart”
  3. Ezekiel 13:18 Literally “the sewers of”
  4. Ezekiel 13:18 Or “joints”
  5. Ezekiel 13:18 Literally “the makers of the veils”
  6. Ezekiel 13:18 Or “souls”
  7. Ezekiel 13:18 Or “souls”
  8. Ezekiel 13:18 Literally “and lives/souls for you, you keep alive”
  9. Ezekiel 13:19 Hebrew “lie”
  10. Ezekiel 13:20 Literally “which you are ensnaring with them the souls/individuals”
  11. Ezekiel 13:22 Or “did not”
  12. Ezekiel 13:22 Or “not to turn”
  13. Ezekiel 13:23 Or “vanity” or “vain/false visions”
  14. Ezekiel 13:23 Or “observe”
  15. Ezekiel 13:23 Or “you will indeed not practice divination”