Ezekiel 13

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

1A message came to me from the LORD. He said:

2Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;

2"Man, speak against the prophets of Israel. Prophets are people who say they bring God's words. These prophets make up their own messages. Tell them: Listen to what the LORD says!

3Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

3The Lord GOD says this. Trouble is coming to the foolish prophets. They follow their own ideas. They have not seen anything from God.

4O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.

4Israel, your prophets are like foxes living in broken-down ruins.

NoteThe King James Version says "foxes in the deserts." The old word means ruins, not sand. It means places where buildings have fallen down.

5Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.

5You did not go up and fix the broken gaps in the wall. You did not repair it for the people of Israel. So they could not stand in the battle on the LORD's day.

6They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.

6They see things that are not real. They tell fortunes that are lies. They say, 'The LORD says this.' But the LORD never sent them. Still they wait for their words to come true.

7Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

7You saw things that were not real. You told fortunes that were lies. You said, 'The LORD says it.' But I never spoke.

8Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.

8So the Lord GOD says this. You spoke empty words and saw lies. So now I am against you, says the Lord GOD.

9And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

9My hand will come down on these lying prophets. They will not sit with my people when they meet. Their names will not be written on Israel's list. They will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.

10Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:

10They led my people the wrong way. They said, 'All is peaceful,' but there was no peace. Someone builds a weak wall. Then they cover it with white paint.

Note"Untempered morter" in the King James Version means whitewash, a thin white paint. Painting a weak wall makes it look strong when it is not.

11Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.

11Tell the ones painting the wall that it will fall. Heavy rain will pour down. Big hailstones will crash down. A strong windstorm will burst out.

12Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?

12When the wall falls, people will ask you a question. 'Where is the paint you spread on it?'

13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.

13So the Lord GOD says this. I am angry, and I will send a windstorm to rip it apart. Pouring rain and big hailstones will come in my anger. They will destroy that wall.

14So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

14I will break down the wall you painted. I will flatten it to the ground. Even the bottom stones will show. It will fall, and you will die inside it. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

15Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;

15I will finish pouring out my anger on the wall. I will pour it out on the painters too. Then I will tell you: The wall is gone. The ones who painted it are gone too.

16To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.

16Those painters were the prophets of Israel. They spoke to the city of Jerusalem. They said they saw peace coming for her. But there was no peace, says the Lord GOD.

17Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,

17Now, man, turn and face the women among your people. They speak messages they make up themselves. Speak against them.

18And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?

18Say this: The Lord GOD says these words. Trouble is coming to the women who sew magic charms for people's arms. They make veils for heads of every size. They use them to trap people. Will you trap my people and keep your own lives safe?

NoteThe King James Version says "pillows to all armholes" and "kerchiefs." These were small charms tied to the arms and cloths worn over the head, used in magic.

19And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?

19You have shamed me in front of my people. You did it for a few handfuls of barley and some bread. You lied to my people, and they listened. Your lies killed people who should not have died. They kept alive people who should not have lived.

20Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.

20So the Lord GOD says this. I am against your magic charms. You use them to trap people like birds. I will tear the charms off your arms. I will set the trapped people free.

21Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

21I will tear off your veils too. I will save my people from your hands. You will not catch them anymore. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

22Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:

22You made good people sad with your lies. I never made them sad. You also made bad people feel strong. You told them they would be fine. So they did not turn away from their wrong ways.

23Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

23So you will not see false visions anymore. You will not tell fortunes anymore. I will save my people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.