God declares against false prophets and prophetesses, that deceive the
people with lies.
13:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
13:2. Son of man, prophesy thou against the prophets of Israel that
prophesy: and thou shalt say to them that prophesy out of their own
heart: Hear ye the word of the Lord:
13:3. Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the foolish prophets that follow
their own spirit, and see nothing.
13:4. Thy prophets, O Israel, were like foxes in the deserts.
13:5. You have not gone up to face the enemy, nor have you set up a
wall for the house of Israel, to stand in battle in the day of the
Lord.
13:6. They see vain things, and they foretell lies, saying: The Lord
saith: whereas the Lord hath not sent them: and they have persisted to
confirm what they have said.
13:7. Have you not seen a vain vision and spoken a lying divination:
and you say: The Lord saith: whereas I have not spoken.
13:8. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because you have spoken vain
things, and have seen lies: therefore behold I come against you, saith
the Lord God.
13:9. And my hand shall be upon the prophets that see vain things, and
that divine lies: they shall not be in the council of my people, nor
shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither
shall they enter into the land of Israel, and you shall know that I am
the Lord God.
13:10. Because they have deceived my people, saying: Peace, and there
is no peace: and the people built up a wall, and they daubed it with
dirt without straw.
13:11. Say to them that daub without tempering, that it shall fall: for
there shall be an overflowing shower, and I will cause great hailstones
to fall violently from above, and a stormy wind to throw it down.
13:12. Behold, when the wall is fallen: shall it not be said to you:
Where is the daubing wherewith you have daubed it?
13:13. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Lo, I will cause a stormy
wind to break forth in my indignation, and there shall be an
overflowing shower in my anger: and great hailstones in my wrath to
consume.
13:14. And I will break down the wall that you have daubed with
untempered mortar: and I will make it even with the ground, and the
foundation thereof shall be laid bare: and it shall fall, and shall be
consumed in the midst thereof: and you shall know that I am the Lord.
13:15. And I will accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that
daub it without tempering the mortar, and I will say to you: The wall
is no more, and they that daub it are no more.
13:16. Even the prophets of Israel that prophesy to Jerusalem, and that
see visions of peace for her: and there is no peace, saith the Lord
God.
13:17. And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy
people that prophesy out of their own heart: and do thou prophesy
against them,
13:18. And say: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to them that sew cushions
under every elbow: and make pillows for the heads of persons of every
age to catch souls: and when they caught the souls of my people, they
gave life to their souls.
Sew cushions, etc.... Viz., by making people easy in their sins, and
promising them impunity.—Ibid. They gave life to their souls.... That
is, they flattered them with promises of life, peace, and security.
13:19. And they violated me among my people, for a handful of barley,
and a piece of bread, to kill souls which should not die, and to save
souls alive which should not live, telling lies to my people that
believe lies.
Violated me.... That is, dishonoured and discredited me. Ibid. To kill
souls, etc.... That is, to sentence souls to death, which are not to
die; and to promise life to them who are not to live.
13:20. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I declare against your
cushions, wherewith you catch flying souls: and I will tear them off
from your arms: and I will let go the soul that you catch, the souls
that should fly.
13:21. And I will tear your pillows, and will deliver my people out of
your hand, neither shall they be any more in your hands to be a prey:
and you shall know that I am the Lord.
13:22. Because with lies you have made the heart of the just to mourn,
whom I have not made sorrowful: and have strengthened the hands of the
wicked, that he should not return from his evil way, and live.
13:23. Therefore you shall not see vain things, nor divine divinations
any more, and I will deliver my people out of your hand: and you shall
know that I am the Lord.