⁹ Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land^(A) and committed adultery^(B) with stone^(C) and wood.^(D)

¹⁸ In those days the people of Judah will join the people of Israel,^(A) and together^(B) they will come from a northern^(C) land to the land^(D) I gave your ancestors as an inheritance.

¹⁹ “I myself said,

³ This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem:

⁵ Then he said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol^(A) of jealousy.

⁶ And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestable^(B) things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary?^(C) But you will see things that are even more detestable.”

⁷ Then he brought me to the entrance to the court. I looked, and I saw a hole in the wall. ⁸ He said to me, “Son of man, now dig into the wall.” So I dug into the wall and saw a doorway there.

⁹ And he said to me, “Go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing here.” ¹⁰ So I went in and looked, and I saw portrayed all over the walls^(D) all kinds of crawling things and unclean^(E) animals and all the idols of Israel.^{(F) 11} In front of them stood seventy elders^(G) of Israel, and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each had a censer^(H) in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense^(I) was rising.^(J)

¹² He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness,^(K) each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, ‘The Lord does not see^(L) us; the Lord has forsaken the land.’” ¹³ Again, he said, “You will see them doing things that are even more detestable.”

¹⁴ Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, and I saw women sitting there, mourning the god Tammuz.^{(M) 15} He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? You will see things that are even more detestable than this.”

¹⁶ He then brought me into the inner court^(N) of the house of the Lord, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar,^(O) were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun^(P) in the east.^(Q)

¹⁷ He said to me, “Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial matter for the people of Judah to do the detestable things^(R) they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence^(S) and continually arouse my anger?^(T) Look at them putting the branch to their nose! ¹⁸ Therefore I will deal with them in anger;^(U) I will not look on them with pity^(V) or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listen^(W) to them.”

False Prophets Condemned

13 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets^(A) of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination:^(B) ‘Hear the word of the Lord!^{(C) 3} This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish^[a] prophets^(D) who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!^{(E) 4} Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins. ⁵ You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair^(F) it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord.^{(G) 6} Their visions are false^(H) and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent^(I) them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words.^{(J) 7} Have you not seen false visions^(K) and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken?

⁸ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you,^(L) declares the Sovereign Lord. ⁹ My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying^(M) divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records^(N) of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.^(O)

¹⁰ “‘Because they lead my people astray,^(P) saying, “Peace,”^(Q) when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash,^{(R) 11} therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones^(S) hurtling down,^(T) and violent winds will burst forth.^{(U) 12} When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?”

¹³ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones^(V) and torrents of rain^(W) will fall with destructive fury.^{(X) 14} I will tear down the wall^(Y) you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation^(Z) will be laid bare. When it^[b] falls,^(AA) you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord. ¹⁵ So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, ¹⁶ those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(AB)”’

¹⁷ “Now, son of man, set your face^(AC) against the daughters^(AD) of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them^{(AE) 18} and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own? ¹⁹ You have profaned^(AF) me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread.^(AG) By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live.^(AH)

²⁰ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds.^{(AI) 21} I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^{(AJ) 22} Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies,^(AK) when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives,^{(AL) 23} therefore you will no longer see false visions^(AM) or practice divination.^(AN) I will save^(AO) my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.^(AP)’”