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Judgment against False Women Prophets

17 “Now, son of man, speak out against the women who prophesy from their own imaginations. 18 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: What sorrow awaits you women who are ensnaring the souls of my people, young and old alike. You tie magic charms on their wrists and furnish them with magic veils. Do you think you can trap others without bringing destruction on yourselves? 19 You bring shame on me among my people for a few handfuls of barley or a piece of bread. By lying to my people who love to listen to lies, you kill those who should not die, and you promise life to those who should not live.

20 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against all your magic charms, which you use to ensnare my people like birds. I will tear them from your arms, setting my people free like birds set free from a cage. 21 I will tear off the magic veils and save my people from your grasp. They will no longer be your victims. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 22 You have discouraged the righteous with your lies, but I didn’t want them to be sad. And you have encouraged the wicked by promising them life, even though they continue in their sins. 23 Because of all this, you will no longer talk of seeing visions that you never saw, nor will you make predictions. For I will rescue my people from your grasp. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

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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”