¹The LORD ’s word came to me , saying ,

²“Son of man , prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy , and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart , ‘Hear the LORD ’s word :

³The Lord GOD says , “Woe to the foolish prophets , who follow their own spirit , and have seen nothing !

⁴Israel , your prophets have been like foxes in the waste places .

⁵You have not gone up into the gaps or built up the wall for the house of Israel , to stand in the battle in the LORD ’s day .

⁶They have seen falsehood and lying divination , who say , ‘The LORD says ;’ but the LORD has not sent them . They have made men to hope that the word would be confirmed .

⁷Haven’t you seen a false vision , and haven’t you spoken a lying divination , in that you say , ‘The LORD says ;’ but I have not spoken ?”

⁸“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says : “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen lies , therefore , behold , I am against you ,” says the Lord GOD .

⁹“My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who utter lying divinations . They will not be in the council of my people , neither will they be written in the writing of the house of Israel , neither will they enter into the land of Israel . Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD .”

¹⁰“‘Because , even because they have seduced my people , saying, “Peace ;” and there is no peace . When one builds up a wall , behold , they plaster it with whitewash .

¹¹Tell those who plaster it with whitewash that it will fall . There will be an overflowing shower ; and you , great hailstones, will fall . A stormy wind will tear it .

¹²Behold , when the wall has fallen , won’t it be said to you , “Where is the plaster with which you have plastered it ?”

¹³“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says : “I will even tear it with a stormy wind in my wrath . There will be an overflowing shower in my anger , and great hailstones in wrath to consume it .

¹⁴So I will break down the wall that you have plastered with whitewash , and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered . It will fall , and you will be consumed in the middle of it . Then you will know that I am the LORD .

¹⁵Thus I will accomplish my wrath on the wall , and on those who have plastered it with whitewash . I will tell you , ‘The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it —

¹⁶to wit, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem , and who see visions of peace for her , and there is no peace ,’” says the Lord GOD .’”

¹⁷You , son of man , set your face against the daughters of your people , who prophesy out of their own heart ; and prophesy against them ,

¹⁸and say, “The Lord GOD says : ‘Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all elbows and make veils for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls ! Will you hunt the souls of my people and save souls alive for yourselves ?

¹⁹You have profaned me amongst my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread , to kill the souls who should not die and to save the souls alive who should not live , by your lying to my people who listen to lies .’

²⁰“Therefore the Lord GOD says : ‘Behold , I am against your magic bands , with which you hunt the souls to make them fly , and I will tear them from your arms . I will let the souls fly free , even the souls whom you ensnare like birds .

²¹I will also tear your veils and deliver my people out of your hand ; and they will no longer be in your hand to be ensnared. Then you will know that I am the LORD .

²²Because with lies you have grieved the heart of the righteous , whom I have not made sad ; and strengthened the hands of the wicked , that he should not return from his wicked way , and be saved alive .

²³Therefore you shall no more see false visions nor practise divination . I will deliver my people out of your hand . Then you will know that I am the LORD .’”