9 As I looked, I saw a hand stretched out toward me. In it was a scroll. 10 He spread the scroll in front of me. There was writing on the front and back. There were funeral songs, songs of mourning, and horrible things written on it.

3 1 Yahweh said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find. Eat this scroll. Then speak to the people of Israel." 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

3 He said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I'm giving you, and fill your stomach with it." So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

4 He said to me, "Son of man, go to the people of Israel, and speak my words to them. 5 I am not sending you to people whose language is hard to understand or difficult to speak. I am sending you to Israel. 6 I am not sending you to nations whose language is hard to understand, difficult to speak, or whose words you cannot understand. If I send you to those nations, they will certainly listen to you. 7 But the people of Israel will refuse to listen to you because they refuse to listen to me. All the people of Israel are very stubborn and hardheaded. 8 Yet, I will make you as stubborn and as hardheaded as they are. 9 I will make you as hard as a diamond, harder than stone. Don't be afraid of them. Don't be terrified in their presence, even though they are rebellious people."

10 He also said to me, "Son of man, take to heart everything I have spoken to you, and listen closely. 11 Go to the exiles, to your people. Whether they listen or not, tell them, 'This is what Adonay Yahweh says.'"

12 Then the Ruach lifted me, and behind me I heard a loud thundering voice say, "Blessed is Yahweh's glory, which left this place." 13 I also heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures touching one another and the noise of the wheels beside them as well as a loud rumbling. 14 Then the Ruach lifted me and took me away. I went away feeling bitter and angry. The strong power of Yahweh came over me. 15 I went to Tel Abib, to the exiles who lived by the Chebar River. I sat there among them for seven days. I was stunned.

Ezekiel Is Appointed to Be a Watchman 16 After seven days Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the people of Israel. Listen to what I say, and warn them for me. 18 Suppose I tell you that wicked people will surely die, but you don't warn them or speak out so that they can change their wicked ways in order to save their lives. Then these wicked people will die because of their sin, but I will hold you responsible for their deaths. 19 But suppose you warn the wicked people, and they don't turn from their wicked ways. Then they will die because of their sin, but you will save yourself. 20 If righteous people turn from living the right way and do wrong, I will make them stumble, and they will die. If you don't warn them, they will die because of their sin, and the right things they did will not be remembered. I will hold you responsible for their deaths. 21 But if you warn righteous people not to sin, and they don't sin, they will certainly live because they listened to the warning. You will save yourself."

The LORD Gives Ezekiel Directions to Follow 22 The power of Yahweh came over me. He said, "Get up, and go to the plain. I will speak to you there." 23 I got up and went to the plain. Yahweh's glory was standing there like the glory I saw by the Chebar River, and I immediately bowed down.

24 Then the Ruach entered me and stood me on my feet. He talked to me. He said, "Go into your home, and shut yourself inside. 25 People will tie you up with ropes, son of man, so that you can't go outside. 26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you can't talk or criticize them, even though they are rebellious people. 27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth. You will tell them, 'This is what Adonay Yahweh says.' Some will listen, and some will refuse to listen. They are rebellious people."

Ezekiel Plays Out the Blockade of Jerusalem 4 1 The LORD said, "Son of man, take clay, put it in front of you, and draw a map of Jerusalem on it. 2 Set up a blockade against it, build attack walls around it, put up dirt ramps around it, have troops ready to attack it, and place battering rams all around it. 3 Then take an iron pan, and set it up as a wall between you and the city. Turn your face toward the city as if you were going to attack it, and then attack it. This is a sign for the people of Israel.

4 "Then lie on your left side and take the punishment of the nation of Israel yourself. You will bear its punishment as many days as you lie on that side. 5 I have assigned to you one day for each year its punishment will last. So for 390 days, you will bear the punishment for the sins of the nation of Israel. 6 When you finish this, you will lie down again, this time on your right side. You will bear the punishment for the sins of the nation of Judah for 40 days, one day for each year I have assigned to you. 7 Turn your face toward the blockaded Jerusalem. Shake your fist and prophesy against it. 8 I will tie you up with ropes so that you will not be able to turn from one side to the other until you have finished attacking Jerusalem.

9 "Then take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and winter wheat. Put them in a container, and use them to make bread for yourself. Eat it during the 390 days that you are lying on your side. 10 The food that you eat should be weighed. Eat eight ounces of food every day at set times. 11 Measure out two-thirds of a quart of water, and drink it at set times. 12 Eat the bread as you would eat barley loaves. Bake the bread in front of people, using human excrement for fuel."

13 Then Yahweh said, "In the same way, the people of Israel will eat uncleana bread among the nations where I scatter them."

14 I answered, "Adonay Yahweh , I have never dishonored myself. From the time I was young until now, I have never eaten an animal that died by itself or was killed by other wild animals. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth."

15 He said to me, "I will let you use cow manure in place of human excrement. Bake your bread over it."

16 He also said to me, "Son of man, I am going to cut off the bread supply in Jerusalem. People will anxiously eat rationed bread and fearfully drink rationed water. 17 They will be shocked at the sight of each other because of the lack of food and water. They will waste away because of their sin."

The LORD Tells Ezekiel about the Fall of Jerusalem 5 1 The LORD said, "Son of man, take a sharp blade, and use it as a barber's razor to shave your head and beard. Take scales to weigh your hair and divide it into three even parts. 2 When the blockade is over, burn one-third of your hair in a fire in the middle of the city. Take another third, and cut it up with a blade around the city. Then scatter the remaining third to the wind, and I will draw a sword and go after it. 3 Take a few strands of hair, and wrap them in the hem of your clothes. 4 Later, take some of them, and throw them in a fire and burn them up. From there a fire will spread throughout the whole nation of Israel.

5 "This is what Adonay Yahweh says: This is Jerusalem! I have placed it in the center of the nations with countries all around it. 6 The people of Jerusalem have rebelled against my rules and my laws more than the surrounding nations. They have rejected my rules, and they don't live by my laws.

7 "So this is what Adonay Yahweh says: People of Jerusalem, you have caused more trouble than the nations around you. You haven't lived by my laws or obeyed my rules. You haven't even lived up to the standards of the nations around you.

8 "So this is what Adonay Yahweh says: I, too, am against you, and I will punish you in front of the nations. 9 Because of all the detestable things that you do, I will do things to you that I have never done before and will never do again. 10 That is why parents will eat their children, and children will eat their parents. I will punish you and scatter whoever is left to the wind.

11 "As I live, declares Adonay Yahweh , because you have dishonored my holy worship place with all your disgusting and detestable things, I will have you killed. I will not have compassion for you or feel sorry for you. 12 One-third of you will die in plagues and be devoured in famines. Another third will die in battles against those around you. I will scatter the remaining third to the wind, and I will pursue them with a sword.

13 "I will unleash my anger. I will use my fury against you, and I will get revenge. When my fury is unleashed against you, you will know that I, Yahweh, spoke to you while I was angry. 14 I will turn you into a wasteland and an object of ridicule among the nations around you and in the presence of everyone who passes by you. 15 The nations that are around you will ridicule you and laugh at you. When I punish you because of my anger, fury, and fierce revenge, you will become something ridiculed and something horrible. I, Yahweh, have spoken. 16 When I shoot my destructive arrows of famine at you, I will shoot to kill you. I will bring more and more famines into your land, and I will cut off your food supply. 17 I will send famines and wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children. I will send plagues, violence, and wars to kill you. I, Yahweh , have spoken."

A Prophecy against the Mountains of Israel 6 1 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 2 "Son of man, look toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them. 3 Say this, 'You mountains of Israel, listen to the word of Adonay Yahweh ! This is what Adonay Yahweh says to the mountains and hills and to the ravines and valleys: I am going to attack you with a sword and destroy your worship sites. 4 Your altars will be destroyed, and your incense burners will be smashed. I will kill people in front of your idols. 5 I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel in front of your idols, and I will scatter their bones around your altars. 6 Wherever people live, the cities will be ruined, and the worship sites will be wrecked. Your altars will be ruined and demolished. Your idols will be smashed and completely destroyed. Your incense burners will be cut down, and everything you have done will be wiped out. 7 People will be killed, and they will fall among you. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

8 "'But I will let some people live. Some people will escape the battle among the nations and be scattered throughout the countries. 9 Then those who escape will remember me among the nations where they are taken captive. I was hurt by their adulterous hearts, which turned away from me, and by their eyes, which lusted after idols. They will hate themselves for the evil and disgusting things that they have done. 10 Then you will know that I am Yahweh and that the disaster I promised was not an empty threat.

11 "'This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and say, "Oh no!" because the people of Israel have done evil and disgusting things. So they will die in wars, famines, and plagues. 12 Plagues will kill those who are far away. Those who are near will die in wars, and anyone who is left and has escaped will die in famines. This is how I will unleash my anger. 13 Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

"'Those who are killed will lie beside the idols around their altars. They will lie on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, and under every large tree and every leafy oak. These are the places where they made offerings to their disgusting idols. 14 I will use my power against them and destroy the land, from the desert to Diblah. Then they will know that I am Yahweh .'"

The LORD'S Judgment on Israel 7 1 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 2 "Son of man, this is what Adonay Yahweh says to the people in the land of Israel: The end is coming! The end is coming to the four corners of the earth. 3 Now the end is coming for you. I will send my anger against you. I will judge you for the way you have lived, and I will punish you for all the detestable things that you have done. 4 I will not have compassion for you or feel sorry for you. I will pay you back for the way you have lived and for the detestable things you have done. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

5 "This is what Adonay Yahweh says: One disaster after another is coming. 6 The end is coming. The end is coming. It is stirring itself up against you. It is coming! 7 Destruction is coming to you, inhabitants of the land. The time is coming. The day is near. There will be confusion. There will be no joy in the mountains. 8 Soon I will pour out my fury on you and unleash my anger on you. I will judge you for the way you have lived, and I will punish you for all the detestable things that you have done. 9 I will not have compassion or feel sorry. I will pay you back for the way you have lived and for the detestable things that you are still doing. Then you will know that I am Yahweh and that I am the one attacking you.

10 "The day is near! It is coming! Destruction is coming! Wrongdoing has blossomed. Arrogance has flourished. 11 Violence has grown into a weapon for punishing wickedness. None of the people will be left. None of that crowd, none of their wealth, and nothing of value will be left. 12 The time is coming. The day is near. Buyers will not rejoice, and sellers will not mourn, because my fury will be against the whole crowd. 13 Sellers will not live long enough to buy back what they have sold. The visions against that crowd will not change. Because of their sins, none of the people will live. 14 They have blown a ram's horn, and everything is ready. But no one will go into battle, because my fury is against their whole crowd.

15 "Outside are swords, and inside are plagues and famines. Whoever is in a field will die in battle. Whoever is in the city will be devoured by famines and plagues. 16 Those who survive will escape to the mountains. They will moan like doves in the valleys. They will moan because of their sins. 17 Every hand will hang limp, and every knee will be as weak as water. 18 They will put on sackcloth, and horror will cover them. All their faces will be covered with shame, and every head will be shaved. 19 They will throw their silver and gold into the streets like garbage. Their silver and gold won't be able to rescue them on the day of Yahweh's anger. It will no longer satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs. Their silver and gold caused them to fall into sin. 20 They were proud of their beautiful jewels and used them to make disgusting and detestable statues of false gods. That is why I will make their jewels disgusting. 21 I will hand their jewels over to foreigners as loot and to the most evil people on earth as prizes. These foreigners will dishonor the people of Israel. 22 I will turn my face away from the people of Israel, and foreigners will dishonor my treasured place. Robbers will go in and dishonor it.

23 "Get the chains ready! The land is filled with murder, and the city is filled with violence. 24 So I will send the most evil nation, and it will take possession of people's houses. I will stop those who are strong from feeling proud, and their holy places will be dishonored. 25 Anguish is coming. People will look for peace, but there will be none. 26 One disaster will happen after another. One rumor will follow another. People will ask for a vision from a prophet. The teachings of priests and the advice of leaders will disappear. 27 Kings will mourn, and princes will give up hope. The common people will lose their courage. I will give them what they deserve and judge them as they have judged others. Then they will know that I am Yahweh ."

Idolatry in Jerusalem 8 1 On the fifth day of the sixth month in the sixth year, I was sitting in my home. Judah's leaders were sitting in front of me. The power of Adonay Yahweh came over me. 2 As I looked, I saw something that looked like a human. From the waist down its body looked like fire, and from the waist up its body looked like glowing metal. 3 It stretched out what looked like a hand and grabbed me by the hair on my head. In these visions from Elohim, the Ruach carried me between heaven and earth. He took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner courtyard of the temple. That was where an idol that stirs up God's anger was located. 4 There I saw the glory of Israel's Elohim as I did in the vision that I saw in the valley.

5 Elohim said to me, "Son of man, look toward the north." So I looked toward the north, and there in the entrance to the north gate beside the altar, I saw the idol that stirs up God's anger.

6 He asked me, "Son of man, do you see what the people of Israel are doing? The people of Israel are doing very disgusting things here, things that will force me to go far away from my holy place. But you will see even more disgusting things."

7 Then he took me to the entrance of the courtyard. As I looked, I saw a hole in the wall. 8 He said to me, "Son of man, dig through the wall." So I dug through the wall, and I saw a door.

9 He said to me, "Go in, and see the wicked, disgusting things that the people of Israel are doing here." 10 So I went in and looked. I saw that the walls were covered with drawings of every kind of crawling creature, every kind of disgusting animal, and all the idols in the nation of Israel. 11 In front of these drawings stood 70 of Israel's leaders. Jaazaniah, son of Shaphan, was standing with the leaders. Each of them was holding an incense burner in his hand, and a cloud of incense went up.

12 Elohim asked me, "Son of man, do you see what the leaders of the nation of Israel are doing in secret? Each of them is in the room where his god is, and each one of them is thinking, 'Yahweh doesn't see me. Yahweh has abandoned this land.'"

13 Then he said to me, "You will see even more disgusting things that they are doing."

14 He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of Yahweh's temple. Women were sitting there and crying for the god Tammuz. 15 He asked me, "Son of man, do you see this? You will see even more disgusting things than these."

16 Then he brought me into the inner courtyard of Yahweh's temple. There at the entrance to Yahweh's temple, between the entrance and the altar, were about 25 men who had their backs turned to Yahweh's temple. They were facing east and worshiping the rising sun. 17 He asked me, "Son of man, do you see this? Isn't it bad enough that the people of Judah have done these disgusting things that you have seen here? Yet, they also fill the land with violence and continue to provoke me even more. Look how they insult me in the worst possible way.a 18 So I will take action because I'm angry, and I won't have compassion for them or feel sorry for them. Even if they shout in my ears, I won't listen to them."

The LORD Orders the Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem 9 1 Then I heard Yahweh call out with a loud voice. He said, "Come here, those who are going to punish this city. Each of you should bring your weapon with you." 2 So six men came from the upper north gate. Each one brought a deadly weapon with him. Among them was a person dressed in linen who was carrying paper and pen. The men came in and stood by the bronze altar. 3 Then the glory of the Elohim of Israel went up from the angels,a where it had been, to the temple's entrance. Yahweh called to the person dressed in linen who was carrying paper and pen.

4 Yahweh said to that person, "Go throughout the city of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan about all the disgusting things that are being done in the city."

5 Then he said to the others as I was listening, "Follow him throughout the city and kill. Don't have any compassion, and don't feel sorry. 6 Kill old men, young men, old women, young women, and children. But don't come near anyone who has a mark on him. Start with my holy place." So they started with the old men in front of the temple.

7 He said to them, "Dishonor the temple! Fill its courtyards with dead people, and then leave." So they went out and killed the people in the city.

8 As they were killing people, I was left alone. So I immediately bowed down. I cried, "Adonay Yahweh , will you destroy everyone who is left in Israel while you pour out your anger on Jerusalem?"

9 He answered me, "The wickedness of the nations of Israel and Judah is terrible. The land is filled with murder, and the city is filled with wrongdoing. They think that Yahweh has abandoned the land and that Yahweh doesn't see. 10 But I will not have compassion or feel sorry. I will do to them what they have done to others."

11 Then the person dressed in linen who was carrying paper and pen reported, "I did everything you commanded."

The Glory of the LORD Leaves His Temple 10 1 As I looked at the dome over the heads of the angels,b I saw something that looked like a throne made of sapphire. 2 Yahweh said to the person dressed in linen, "Go between the wheels under the angels, and fill your hands with burning coals. Then scatter them over the city." So he went between the wheels as I watched.

3 The angels were standing on the south side of the temple as the person went. A cloud filled the inner courtyard. 4 Yahweh's glory rose from the angels to the entrance of the temple, the cloud filled the temple, and the brightness of Yahweh's glory filled the courtyard. 5 The sound of the angels' wings was heard as far as the outer courtyard. It was like the sound of El Shadday when he speaks.

6 After Yahweh had commanded the person dressed in linen to take burning coals from between the wheels beside the angels, the person went in and stood beside one of the wheels. 7 One of the angels reached into the fire that was between the angels and took out some coals. This angel put them in the hands of the person dressed in linen. The person took them and left.

8 The angels appeared to have what looked like human hands under their wings. 9 As I looked, I saw four wheels beside the angels, one wheel beside each of the angels. The wheels looked like beryl. 10 All four wheels looked the same. Each was like a wheel within a wheel. 11 Whenever the angels moved, they moved in any of the four directions without turning as they moved. They always moved in the direction they faced without turning as they moved. 12 Their entire bodies, their backs, hands, wings, and wheels were covered with eyes. Each of the angels had a wheel. 13 I heard that the wheels were called the whirling wheels. 14 Each of the angels had four faces. The first was the face of an angel, the second was the face of a human, the third was the face of a lion, and the fourth was the face of an eagle.

15 The angels rose. These were the living creatures that I saw at the Chebar River. 16 When the angels moved, the wheels moved beside them. When the angels lifted their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels didn't leave their side. 17 When the angels stood still, the wheels stood still. When the angels rose, the wheels rose with them. The spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 18 Then the glory of Yahweh left the temple's entrance and stood over the angels. 19 The angels lifted their wings and rose from the ground. I was watching them as they left with the wheels beside them. The angels stood at the door to the east gate of Yahweh's temple, and the glory of the Elohim of Israel was above them.

20 These are the living creatures that I saw under the Elohim of Israel at the Chebar River. I realized that they were angels. 21 Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings were what looked like human hands. 22 Their faces looked exactly like the faces that I saw by the Chebar River. Each one went straight ahead.

Judgment on the Rulers of Israel 11 1 Then the Ruach lifted me and took me to the east gate of Yahweh's temple. (It's the gate that faces east.) Twentyfive men were at the entrance of the gate. I saw among them Azzur's son Jaazaniah and Benaiah's son Pelatiah. They were leaders of the people.

2 Then Yahweh said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who plan evil and give bad advice in this city. 3 They say, 'It's almost time to rebuild homes. This city is a cooking pot, and we're the meat.' 4 So prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man."

5 The Ruach Yahweh came to me and told me to say, "This is what Yahweh says: You are saying these things, nation of Israel. But I know what's going through your mind. 6 You have killed many people in this city and have filled its streets with corpses.

7 "So this is what Adonay Yahweh says: The corpses that you put in the middle of the city are the meat, and the city is the cooking pot. I will force you out of the city. 8 You are afraid of swords, so I will bring swords to attack you, declares Adonay Yahweh . 9 I will force you out of the city. I will hand you over to foreigners, and I will punish you. 10 You will die in battle. I will judge you at Israel's borders. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. "The city will not be your cooking pot, and you will not be the meat in it. I will judge you at Israel's borders. 12 Then you will know that I am Yahweh. You haven't lived by my laws, and you haven't obeyed my rules. You have followed the standards set by the nations around you."

13 While I was prophesying, Benaiah's son Pelatiah died.

I immediately bowed down and cried out, "Adonay Yahweh , will you completely destroy all the remaining people in Israel?"

The LORD'S Promise to Gather Israel from the Nations 14 Then Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 15 "Son of man, the people who live in Jerusalem are talking about your own relatives and about the entire nation of Israel. The people who live in Jerusalem say, 'They are far away from Yahweh. This land has been given to us as our own property.'

16 "So tell them, 'This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, I have been their sanctuary for a little while among the countries where they've gone.'

17 "So tell them, 'This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I will bring them together from the nations and gather them from the countries where I've scattered them. I will give them the land of Israel. 18 They will come and remove all the disgusting and detestable things that are there. 19 I will give them a single purpose and put a new spirit in them. I will remove their stubborn hearts and give them obedient hearts. 20 Then they will live by my laws and obey my rules. They will be my people, and I will be their Elohim. 21 But as for those whose minds are set on following detestable and disgusting idols, I will pay them back for what they have done, declares Adonay Yahweh .'"

The Glory of the LORD Leaves Jerusalem 22 Then the angelsa raised their wings, with the wheels beside them. The glory of the Elohim of Israel was above them. 23 Yahweh's glory left the middle of the city and stopped above the mountain east of the city.

24 In this vision from the Ruach Elohim, the Ruach lifted me and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia. Then the vision I saw left me.

25 I told the exiles everything Yahweh had shown me.

Ezekiel Plays Out Israel's Exile 12 1 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 2 "Son of man, you are living among rebellious people. They have eyes, but they can't see. They have ears, but they can't hear because they are rebellious people.

3 "Son of man, pack your bags as if you were going into exile. Let the people see you leave in the daylight. March like a captive from your place to another place as they watch. Maybe they will understand, even though they are rebellious people. 4 Let them see you in the daylight. Bring out your bags as if you were going into exile. In the evening let them see you leave like a captive going into exile. 5 Dig a hole through the wall of your house, and leave through it. 6 Let them see you put your bags on your shoulders and carry them out in the dark. Cover your face so that you won't see the land. I've made you a sign to warn the nation of Israel."

7 I did what I was ordered to do. During the day I brought out bags as if I were going into exile. In the evening I dug a hole through the wall. I brought out my bags in the dark. I let the people see me as I carried my bags on my shoulders.

8 The next morning Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 9 "Son of man, didn't the rebellious nation of Israel ask you what you were doing?

10 "Tell them, 'This is what Adonay Yahweh says: This is the divine revelation about the prince from Jerusalem and about all the people of Israel who live there.'

11 "Tell them, 'I am your warning sign. What I have done will happen to you. You will go into exile and into captivity. 12 The prince who is among you will put his bags on his shoulders in the dark and leave. People will dig holes in the wall to go through. The prince will cover his face so that he cannot see the land. 13 I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my net. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Babylonians, but he will not see it. And that's where he'll die. 14 I will scatter in every direction all those who are around him-his staff and all his troops. I will pursue them with my sword. 15 Then they will know that I am Yahweh, because I will scatter them among the nations and force them into other countries. 16 However, I will spare a few of them from wars, famines, and plagues. Wherever they go among the nations, they will realize that everything they did was disgusting. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.'"

17 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 18 "Son of man, shake as you eat your food. Tremble and be worried as you drink your water.

19 "Tell the people of this land, 'This is what Adonay Yahweh says about the people who live in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will be worried as they eat their food and terrified as they drink their water. Their country will be stripped of everything because everyone who lives there is violent. 20 The cities where people live will be destroyed, and the country will become a wasteland. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.'"

21 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 22 "Son of man, what is this proverb you have in Israel: 'Days go by, and every vision comes to nothing'?

23 "Tell the people, 'This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I will put a stop to the use of this proverb. You will no longer quote it in Israel.' Instead, tell them, 'The time is near when every vision will come true. 24 There will no longer be any false visions or flattering fortunetelling to the people. 25 I, Yahweh, will speak. Everything that I say will happen without any more delay. I will say something, and it will happen during your lifetime, you rebellious people, declares Adonay Yahweh .'"

26 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 27 "Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, 'The vision that Ezekiel sees won't happen for a long time. What he prophecies will happen in the distant future.'

28 "Tell them, 'This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Everything that I say will no longer be delayed. Whatever I say will happen, declares Adonay Yahweh .'"

False Prophets Condemned 13 1 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel. Tell those who make up their prophecies, 'Listen to the word of Yahweh.

3 "'This is what Adonay Yahweh says: How horrible it will be for the foolish prophets. They follow their own ideas, and they have seen nothing. 4 Israel, your prophets are like foxes among the ruins of a city. 5 They haven't repaired the gaps in the wall or rebuilt the wall for the nation of Israel. So Israel will not be protected in battle on the day of Yahweh. 6 These foolish prophets see false visions, and their predictions don't come true. They say, "Yahweh said this." But Yahweh hasn't sent them. Then they hope that their message will come true. 7 Prophets of Israel, haven't you seen false visions and predicted things that don't come true? Don't you say, "Yahweh said this," even though I haven't said anything?

8 "'This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Your predictions are false, and your visions are lies. That is why I'm against you, declares Adonay Yahweh. 9 I will use my power against the prophets who see false visions and predict things that don't come true. They will not help my people make decisions or be recorded in the records of the nation of Israel. They won't even enter Israel. Then you will know that I am Adonay Yahweh .

10 "'They have deceived my people by saying that everything is alright, but it's not alright. When someone builds a flimsy wall, the prophets cover it up with paint. 11 Tell those who cover up the wall with paint that their wall will fall down. Rain will pour down, hailstones will fall on it, and stormy winds will break it to pieces. 12 When the wall falls down, people will ask them, "Where's the paint that you used to cover the wall?"

13 "'This is what Adonay Yahweh says: In my fury I'll cause a storm to break out. In my anger rain will pour down, and hailstones will destroy the wall. 14 I will tear down the wall that the prophets covered up with paint. I will level it and expose its foundation. When the wall falls, they will be destroyed by it. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. 15 I will unleash my fury on the wall and on those who covered it up with paint.

"'Then I will say to you, "The wall is gone, and so are those who painted it. 16 The prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem are gone. Those who said that everything was alright, when it wasn't alright, are gone, declares Adonay Yahweh ."'

17 "Son of man, look at the women among your people who make up prophecies, and prophesy against them.

18 "Tell them, 'This is what Adonay Yahweh says: How horrible it will be for women who sew magic charms for people's wrists and make magic veils of every size for people's heads. You want to trap people. You want to control the lives of my people for your own profit. 19 You dishonor me in front of my people for a few handfuls of barley and a few pieces of bread. You kill people who shouldn't die, and you spare the lives of people who shouldn't live. You lie to my people who are willing to listen.

20 "'This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I'm against the magic charms that you use to trap people like birds. I will tear them from your arms and free the people that you have trapped. 21 I will tear off your magic veils and rescue my people from your power so that they will no longer be under your control. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. 22 You have discouraged righteous people with your lies, even though I hadn't brought them any grief. You encouraged wicked people not to turn from their wicked ways to save their lives. 23 That is why you will no longer see false visions or make predictions. I will rescue my people from your power. Then you will know that I am Yahweh .'"

Idolaters Condemned 14 1 Some of Israel's leaders came to me and sat down in front of me. 2 Then Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 3 "Son of man, these people are devoted to their idols, and they are allowing themselves to fall into sin. Should they be allowed to ask me for help?

4 "So speak to them. Tell them, 'This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Suppose an Israelite is devoted to idols and allows himself to fall into sin. Suppose he goes to a prophet to ask for my help. I, Yahweh, will give that Israelite an answer, the answer that his many idols deserve. 5 I will do this to recapture the hearts of the nation of Israel. They have deserted me because of their disgusting idols.'

6 "So tell the nation of Israel, 'This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Change the way you think and act! Turn away from your idols, and don't return to any of your disgusting things. 7 Suppose an Israelite or a foreigner who lives in Israel deserts me by devoting himself to idols and by allowing himself to fall into sin. If he goes to a prophet to ask for my help, I, Yahweh, will give him an answer. 8 I will reject him, and I will make an example of him. I will exclude him from my people. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

9 "'If a prophet is tricked into giving a prophecy, it is I, Yahweh, who tricked the prophet. I will use my power against you and destroy you from among my people Israel. 10 Both of you will suffer for your sins. The prophet will be as guilty as you are when you ask for his help. 11 Then the people of Israel will no longer wander away from me. They will no longer dishonor me with all their sins. Then they will be my people, and I will be their Elohim , declares Adonay Yahweh .'"

12 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 13 "Son of man, suppose a country sins against me by being unfaithful to me. I will use my power against it, cut off its food supply, send a famine to it, and destroy its people and animals. 14 Even if these three men-Noah, Daniel, and Job-were in that country, they would, by their righteousness, rescue only themselves," declares Adonay Yahweh .

15 "Suppose I send wild animals through that country and they make it childless and turn it into such a wasteland that no one travels through it because of the animals. 16 As I live, declares Adonay Yahweh , not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could rescue their own sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves. And the country would become a wasteland.

17 "Suppose I bring a war against that country by saying, 'I will let a war go throughout this country.' Suppose I destroy the people and the animals in it. 18 As I live, declares Adonay Yahweh , not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could rescue their sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves.

19 "Suppose I send a plague into that country or pour out my fury on it by killing people and destroying animals. 20 As I live, declares. Adonay Yahweh , not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could, by their righteousness, rescue their sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves.

21 "This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I will surely send four terrible punishments against Jerusalem. I will send wars, famines, wild animals, and plagues. They will destroy people and animals. 22 But some people will survive. Some of your sons and daughters will be brought out. When they come out to you, you will see how they live. Then you will be comforted after the disasters that I will bring on Jerusalem, after every disaster that I will bring against it. 23 You will be comforted when you see how they live. Then you will know that everything I have done was done for a reason," declares Adonay Yahweh .

Jerusalem Is Compared to Wood from a Wild Vine 15 1 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 2 "Son of man, what good is the wood from a vine? Is it better than the wood from a tree in the forest? 3 Do people use it to make something? Do they make a peg from it to hang things on? 4 No! It is only thrown into the fire as fuel. The fire burns up both its ends and chars its middle. Then can it be used to make anything? 5 When the vine was in perfect condition, it couldn't be made into anything. How can it be used to make anything after the fire has burned and charred it?

6 "So this is what Adonay Yahweh says: As a vine is taken from among the trees in the forest to be used to feed the fire, so I will take the people who live in Jerusalem to punish them. 7 I will turn against the people of Jerusalem. Even though they have escaped one fire, another fire will burn them. Then they will know that I am Yahweh , because I will turn against them. 8 I will turn the country into a wasteland because they have been unfaithful," declares Adonay Yahweh .

A Description of Jerusalem's Sins 16 1 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 2 "Son of man, make known to the people of Jerusalem the disgusting things they have done. 3 Tell them, 'This is what Adonay Yahweh says to the people of Jerusalem: Your birthplace and your ancestors were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite. 4 When you were born, your umbilical cord wasn't cut. You weren't washed with water to make you clean. You weren't rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloth. 5 No one who saw you felt sorry enough for you to do any of these things. But you were thrown into an open field. You were rejected when you were born.

6 "'Then I went by you and saw you kicking around in your own blood. I said to you, "Live." 7 I made you grow like a plant in the field. You grew up, matured, and became a young woman. Your breasts developed, and your hair grew. Yet, you were naked and bare.

8 "'I went by you again and looked at you. You were old enough to make love to. So I spread my robe over you, and covered your naked body. I promised to love you, and I exchanged marriage vows with you. You became mine, declares Adonay Yahweh .