Ezekiel 13

1 The Lord’s word came to me. 2 “Son of man, prophesy against Israel’s prophets. Tell those who prophesy, ‘Hear the Lord’s word.’” 3 “This is what the Lord says: Woe to those who prophesy from their own hearts though they see nothing at all.” 4 “Israel, your prophets are like foxes among ruins.” 5 “They did not stand firm, and they gathered flocks against the house of Israel. Those who said, ‘On the Lord’s day,’ did not rise up.” [a] 6 “They see false visions and proclaim empty predictions. They say, ‘The Lord says,’ though the Lord did not send them, and then they try to establish their word.” 7 “Have you not seen a false vision and spoken empty predictions?” 8 “Therefore, this is what the Lord says: Because your words are false and your predictions are empty, look, I am against you, says the Lord.” 9 “I will stretch out my hand against the prophets who see false visions and speak empty predictions. They will have no place in my people’s instruction, will not be recorded in the house of Israel’s register, and will not enter Israel’s land. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” 10 “They have led my people astray by saying,” 10 “Peace, peace.” 10 “But there is no peace. One person builds a wall, and they plaster it, but it will fall.” 11 “Tell those who plaster it, ‘It will fall.’ A flooding rain will come. I will send great stones against its joints, and they will fall. A sweeping wind will come, and the wall will break.” 12 “Look, the wall has fallen. Will people not ask you, ‘Where is the plaster you applied?’” 13 “Therefore, this is what the Lord says: In my fury I will unleash a sweeping wind. In my wrath there will be a flooding rain, and in my fury I will bring great stones for complete destruction.” 14 “I will tear down the wall you plastered and level it to the ground. Its foundations will be exposed. It will fall, and you will meet your end amid rebukes. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” 15 “I will bring my wrath against the wall and those who plastered it to its end. It will fall. I will tell you, ‘The wall and those who plastered it are gone.’” 16 “They are Israel’s prophets who prophesy about Jerusalem and see visions of peace for her, though there is no peace, says the Lord.” 17 “Son of man, set your face firmly against the daughters of your people who prophesy from their own hearts. Prophesy against them.” 18 “Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: Woe to the women who sew cushions for every elbow and make coverings for every head of every stature in order to distort lives. They have distorted my people’s lives while preserving other lives.’” 19 “You have treated me as common before my people for a handful of barley and scraps of bread, killing those who should not die and keeping alive those who should not live, while speaking empty declarations to people who listen to them.” 20 “Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: Look, I am against your cushions, where you ensnare lives. I will tear them from your arms and send the lives you distort away to be scattered.” 21 “I will tear away your coverings and rescue my people from your hands. They will no longer remain in your hands to be ensnared. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” 22 “You wrongfully discouraged the righteous person when I had not discouraged him, and you strengthened the lawless person so that he would not turn from his evil way and live.” 23 “Therefore, you will no longer see false visions or speak predictions. I will rescue my people from your hand. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”