Ezekiel 13
Expanded Bible
Ezekiel Speaks Against False Prophets
13 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 2 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], prophesy against the prophets of Israel. Say to those who ·make up their own prophecies [prophesy from their hearts/imagination]: ‘Listen to the word of the Lord. 3 This is what the Lord God says: ·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] the foolish prophets who follow their own ·ideas [L spirit] and have ·not seen a vision from me [L seen nothing]! 4 People of Israel, your prophets have been like ·wild dogs [jackals] among ruins. 5 You have not gone up into the ·broken places [breaches] or repaired the wall for the ·nation [L house of] Israel [C Israel is portrayed as a house or fortress in ruins]. So how can Israel ·hold back the enemy [stand firm] in the battle on the ·Lord’s day of judging [L Day of the Lord]? 6 ·Your prophets [L They] see false visions and ·prophesy [their divinations are] lies. They say, “This is the message of the Lord,” when the Lord has not sent them. But they still hope their words will ·come true [stand]. 7 You said, “This is the message of the Lord,” but ·you have seen false visions and your prophecies are lies [L have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination…?], because I have not spoken.
8 “‘So this is what the Lord God says: Because you prophets spoke things that are false and saw ·visions that do not come true [lying visions], [L look; T behold] I am against you, says the Lord God. 9 ·I will punish [L My hand will be against] the prophets who see false visions and ·prophesy lies [utter lying divinations]. They will ·have no place among [L not be in the council of] my people. Their names will not be written on the ·list [records; registry] of the ·people [L house] of Israel, and they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord God.
10 “‘It is because they lead my people ·the wrong way [astray] by saying, “Peace!” when there is no peace. When the people build a ·weak [flimsy] wall, the prophets cover it with whitewash [C to make it look strong or to cover its flaws]. 11 So tell those who cover ·a weak wall [L it] with whitewash that it will fall down. ·Rain will pour down [There will be a deluge of rain], hailstones will fall, and a windstorm will break the wall down. 12 When the wall has fallen, people will ask you, “Where is the whitewash you used on the wall?”
13 “‘So this is what the Lord God says: I will break the wall with a windstorm. In my ·anger [wrath; rage] ·rain will pour down [there will be a deluge of rain], and hailstones will ·destroy the wall [fall with destructive fury]. 14 I will tear down the wall on which you put whitewash. I will level it to the ground so that ·people will see the wall’s foundation [L its foundations will be laid bare/exposed]. And when the wall falls, you will ·be destroyed [perish] ·under [or within] it. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 15 So I will ·carry out my anger [spend my wrath/rage] on the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. Then I will tell you, “The wall is gone, and those who covered it with whitewash are gone. 16 The prophets of Israel who prophesy ·to [or about] Jerusalem and who see visions of peace for the city, when there is no peace, will be gone, says the Lord God.”’
False Women Prophets
17 “Now, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], look toward the ·women among [L daughters of] your people who ·make up their own prophecies [L prophesy from their own hearts/imaginations]. Prophesy against them. 18 Say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: ·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to the] women who sew ·magic charms [L bands] on their wrists and make ·veils [or headbands] of every length to trap people! You ·ruin [entrap; ensnare] the ·lives [souls] of my people but ·try to [will you…?] save your own ·lives [souls]. 19 For handfuls of barley and ·pieces [scraps] of bread, you have ·dishonored [profaned; C ritually] me among my people. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have ·killed people [put to death souls] who should not die, and you have kept alive those who should not live.
20 “‘So this is what the Lord God says: I am against your magic ·charms [bands], by which you ·trap [ensnare; hunt] ·people [souls] as if they were birds. I will tear ·those charms [L them] off your arms, and I will free those ·people [souls] you have ·trapped [ensnare; hunt] like birds. 21 I will also tear off your ·veils [or headbands] and save my people from your hands. They will no longer be ·trapped by your power [L prey in your hand]. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 22 By your lies you have ·caused those who did right to be sad [disheartened the righteous], when I did not ·make them sad [grieve them]. And you have encouraged the wicked not to ·stop being wicked [turn from their wicked ways], which would have saved their lives. 23 So you will not see false visions or ·prophesy [practice divination] anymore, and I will save my people from your ·power [L hands] so you will know that I am the Lord.’”
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