Eze 13 | EE | STEP | The LORD spoke to me.

Ezekiel 13

The LORD is against false prophets

1 The LORD spoke to me.

2 ‘Son of man, prophesy against the prophets who are now speaking to Israel’s people. Their prophecies are their own ideas. Say to them, “Listen to what the LORD says.” 3 This is what the LORD God says. You will not be happy, you fools. You have not seen anything. You are speaking your own words. 4 Israel’s prophets are like wild dogs that live in broken houses. 5 They have not built up the broken walls for Israel’s people. So they will not be strong when I send enemies to attack them. 6 These prophets describe false dreams and their words are not true. They say, “The LORD says.” But I have not sent them. The things that they tell the people will not happen. But they think that they will happen. 7 Their dreams are false. And they have said things that are not true. You know that they said, “The LORD says”. But I have not spoken to them.’

8 So this is what the LORD God says to them. ‘I am against you because of your words and dreams that are not true,’ says the LORD God.

9 ‘I will punish the prophets who see false dreams. I will punish those who say false things. They will not become leaders of my people. People will not remember them. They will not go into the country called Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD God.’

10 They are leading my people away from me. They say that there will be peace. But there is no peace. They are like men who build a thin wall. And they paint it white. 11 You must speak to the men who painted the wall. Say that it will fall. I will send much rain and hail (rain like stones) and strong winds. 12 The wall will fall. And people will ask why the paint did not hold it up.

13 This, then, is what the LORD God says. ‘I am very angry. So I will send strong winds and hail (rain like stones). Hard rain will fall and it will destroy much. 14 I will break down the wall that you painted. The wall will fall flat. Then you will see the ground on which it was. When the wall falls it will kill you. And you will know that I am the LORD. 15 By this, I will show you that I am very angry. I will destroy the wall and those who painted it white. I will say to you, “The wall is gone. And so are those who painted it.”

16 I am speaking about the prophets of Israel. They promised that Jerusalem would have peace. But I will send no peace to Jerusalem,’ says the LORD God.

17 ‘Now, son of man, you must turn against the women prophets. They say to your people things that are not true. They tell them things that are their own ideas. You must prophesy against them. 18 Say, “This is what the LORD God says. I will punish those who tie special things on their arms. They think that these can make good things happen for them. They wear special cloths over their heads to give them power over people. They want to have power over other people so that they can save themselves. 19 You have taken away my honour so that you can get a little bread. You have said things that are not true. This is how you have caused people to die. But they should not have died. And you have caused people to stay alive who should not stay alive. You say what is not true to my people. And they believe you.”’

20 Now this is what the LORD God says. ‘You catch people as you catch birds with your special cloths and things. But I will tear the special things from you. I will make everyone free from your power. 21 I will tear the cloths from your heads. And you will have no power over people. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 22 The false things that you said made the good people sad. But I did nothing to make them sad. And you did not try to make the bad people stop doing wrong things. You did not try to save their lives. 23 So you women will not see false dreams or have power over people. I will save my people from the things that you do. And then you will know that I am the LORD.’