¹¹ For this reason God sends them^(A) a powerful delusion^(B) so that they will believe the lie^(C)

⁷ “‘When any of the Israelites or any foreigner^(A) residing in Israel separate themselves from me and set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block^(B) before their faces and then go to a prophet to inquire^(C) of me, I the Lord will answer them myself. ⁸ I will set my face against^(D) them and make them an example^(E) and a byword.^(F) I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^(G)

⁹ “‘And if the prophet^(H) is enticed^(I) to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.^(J)

²⁰ And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’

“One suggested this, and another that. ²¹ Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’

²² “‘By what means?’ the Lord asked.

“‘I will go out and be a deceiving^(A) spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said.

“‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’

²³ “So now the Lord has put a deceiving^(B) spirit in the mouths of all these prophets^(C) of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster^(D) for you.”

²⁷ “Then tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk^(A) and vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword^(B) I will send among you.’

¹⁷ “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”