False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 But there were also false prophets^(A) among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.^(B) They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord^(C) who bought them^(D)—bringing swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their depraved conduct^(E) and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. ³ In their greed^(F) these teachers will exploit you^(G) with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

³² He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’^(A)

⁴ Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins. ⁵ You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair^(A) it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord.^{(B) 6} Their visions are false^(C) and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent^(D) them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words.^{(E) 7} Have you not seen false visions^(F) 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,^(G) declares the Sovereign Lord. ⁹ My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying^(H) divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records^(I) of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.^(J)

¹⁰ “‘Because they lead my people astray,^(K) saying, “Peace,”^(L) when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash,^{(M) 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^(N) hurtling down,^(O) and violent winds will burst forth.^{(P) 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^(Q) and torrents of rain^(R) will fall with destructive fury.^{(S) 14} I will tear down the wall^(T) you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation^(U) will be laid bare. When it^[a] falls,^(V) 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.^(W)”’