Ezekiel

Contains visions and prophecies of judgment and restoration for Israel and the nations.

Chapter 13

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

*And God spoke to me through his message.

2 Son 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;

*Son of man, speak against the false prophets in Israel. Tell them, "Listen to God's message about what is truly in your hearts."

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

*Therefore, God says this: Woe to the foolish prophets who rely on their own thoughts and haven't seen anything.

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

*O Israel, your prophets act like sneaky foxes in the dry desert areas.

5 Ye 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.

*You haven't gone to help where needed or built a protective barrier for the people of Israel during the LORD's battle.

6 They 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.

*They saw people using false methods claiming it was God's message, but God didn't send them. They made others believe they would support the message.

7 Have 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?

*Did you not see a false vision and speak a deceitful message, claiming that the Lord said it, when in fact I have not spoken?

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

*So, God says this: Since you've talked nonsense and seen false things, I will oppose you, says the Lord God.

9 And 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.

*My hand will be with the prophets who see false things and tell lies. They won't be part of my people, their words won't be in Israel's writings, and they can't enter Israel's land. You will know that I am the Lord God.

10 Because, 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:

*Because they tricked my people by saying there is peace, but there wasn't any. Then one person built a wall, only for others to cover it with weak mortar.

11 Say 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.

*Tell those who poorly build it with unstable materials that it will collapse. There will be a heavy rainstorm, and huge hailstones will fall, along with a strong wind that will tear it apart.

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

*Look, when the wall collapses, won't you be asked about the material you used to plaster it?

13 Therefore 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.

*So, God says, "I'll use a strong wind to tear it apart, along with heavy rain and big hailstones to destroy it all in my anger."

14 So 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.

*I will destroy the weak wall you've built with poor materials, bringing it crashing down to the ground. The underlying foundation will be exposed, causing it to collapse, and you will be destroyed along with it. You will then understand that I am the all-powerful Lord.

15 Thus 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;

*In this way, I will fulfill my anger on the wall and those who covered it with weak mortar. Then I will tell you, "The wall is gone, along with those who built it."

16 To 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.

*In other words, the prophets in Israel who talk about good things for Jerusalem and have peaceful visions, but there is actually no peace, says the Lord God.

17 Likewise, 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,

*So, just like that, you - human child - should face the women from your people who are prophesying based on their own thoughts. Then, you prophesy against them too.

18 And 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?

*And say, This is what the Lord God says: Woe to the women who sew pillows on all sleeves and make headscarves for every size to catch souls. Do you want to catch the souls of my people, and do you plan to save the souls that come to you?

19 And 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?

*Will you make me unholy among my people for small amounts of barley and bits of bread, to kill souls that shouldn't die, and to keep alive souls that shouldn't live, through your deceitful words to my people who hear your lies?

20 Wherefore 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.

*So, God says this: I'm going against the things you use to catch souls and make them fly. I will take them away from you and let the souls go free, those souls you were trying to make fly.

21 Your 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.

*I will rip your headscarves, free my people from your control, and they won't be hunted by you anymore. You will realize that I am the LORD.

22 Because 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:

*Because you've caused the good person to be sad with lies, which I didn't do. And you've made the bad person more powerful, so they don't change their wrong ways, by promising them a long life.

23 Therefore 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.

*So there won't be any more foolish actions or special messages from God. I will save my people from you, and you'll realize that I am in charge.

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