Ezekiel

False Prophets and Prophetesses

The word of the Lord came to me again, saying:

“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel—those who prophesy on their own initiative. Say: Hear the word of the Lord!

This is what the Lord says: Woe to the senseless prophets, who follow their inspiration without having seen anything!

Your prophets, Israel, are like foxes among the ruins!

They have not gone up to the breaches nor built a wall around Israel so she can stand firm in the Lord’s day of battle.

Their words are trickery and lies; they say: ‘The word of the Lord,’ when the Lord has not sent them;that’s why they wait for him to fulfill their word.

Is it not a false vision you have seen? Have you not uttered lying divination? You say: ‘oracle of the Lord,’ when I have not spoken.

But this is what the Lord says: Because of your false and lying revelations, I will oppose you—word of the Lord.

My hand will strike the prophets whose revelations are delusions, whose predictions are lies. They will not be accepted among my people’s assembly; nor will they be inscribed in the register of the nation of Israel. They will not reenter the land of Israel—and you will know that I am the Lord.

These prophets have misled my people, saying, “Peace!” when there is no peace. The people are building a wall, and these prophets daub it with whitewash.

Now tell those who daub it with whitewash:

The wall will fall. I will send torrential rain, Huge hailstones and stormy winds, and see the wall fall! Won’t they say to you: Where is the whitewash with which you daubed it?

That is why the Lord says this: In my fury, I will cause a destructive wind to break out; in my anger, I will send a heavy rain; and my wrath will send destructive hailstones.

I will demolish the wall you coated with whitewash; I will tear it down to the ground, exposing its foundation. It will collapse, and you will be completely destroyed beneath it; and you will know that I am the Lord.

I will pour out my anger on the wall and those who whitewashed it. Then, they will say to you: Where is the wall, and where are those who whitewashed it—

the prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace when there was no peace?

The Lord then said to me: “As for you, son of man, turn toward the women of your people, who prophesy on their own initiative; and prophesy against them.

You will say: Woe to those who make magic bands for all wrists and veils for every size of the head—those women who ensnare souls!

For the Lord God says: You who ensnare the lives of my people, will you preserve your own? You have dishonored me among my people, for handfuls of barley and pieces of bread. Because of you, people die, who should not die, and people live, who should not live. For my people, listen to you and your lies.”

That is why the Lord says: “I hate the wristbands with which you trap souls like birds.

I will tear off your veils and free my people from your grasp. No longer will they fall into your hands; and you will know that I am the Lord.

You have disheartened the righteous, whom I would never dishearten, with lies, and you have strengthened the wicked, so he may not turn from his evil ways and save his life.

Because of this, I will no longer allow you to have false visions or practice divination. I will free my people from your grip; and you will know that I am the Lord.”