Ezekiel 13

1 Then the word [message from God, divine communication] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came [existed, came into being] to me, saying [to speak, to command, to proclaim], word study 2 “Son [descendant, human] of man [the first human, Adam], prophesy [speak under divine influence] against the prophets [spokespersons for God] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants] who are now prophesying [speaking under the divine spirit]. Tell those who prophesy [speak from their own heart] out of their own imagination [heart, mind, and will]: Hear [listen and obey] the word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]! word study 3 This is what the Lord [Adonay, a title of reverence] GOD [Yehovah] says: Woe [a cry of sorrow, a lament] to the foolish [stupid, wicked, or impious] prophets who follow [walk after, obey] their own spirit [the breath of life, their mind and emotions], yet have seen [perceived, understood, or experienced] nothing [no vision, no revelation]. word study 4 Your prophets [false spokesmen, proclaiming lies], O Israel [God’s chosen people], are like foxes [jackals, burrowers] among the ruins [deserts, waste places, desolation]. word study 5 You did not go up [to ascend, rise] to the gaps [breaches, breaks] or restore [build up, make whole] the wall [fence, barrier] around the house [dwelling place, family] of Israel [God’s chosen people] so that it would stand [be established, firm] in the battle [war, conflict] on the Day [time, period] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Almighty]. word study 6 They see false [empty] visions and speak lying [deceitful] divinations [through secret arts, witchcraft]. They claim, ‘Thus declares [says, speaks] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God],’ when the LORD [The covenant Name of God] did not [has not, will not] send [commission, appoint] them; yet they wait [hope, expect] for the fulfillment [confirmation, establishment] of their message [word, prophecy]. word study 7 Haven’t you seen [a false or vain vision, without substance] a false vision [a vision without truth] and spoken [uttered or proclaimed] a lying [deceptive or false] divination [a prophecy based on supernatural means, like fortune-telling] when you proclaim [declare or announce], ‘Thus declares [speaks or utters] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God],’ even though [although or notwithstanding] I [the Lord, the speaker] have not spoken [communicated or uttered]? word study 8 Therefore [thus, in this manner] this is what the Lord [Adonay, God as Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: Because [since, for the reason that] you have uttered [spoken, proclaimed] vain [empty, false, deceitful] words [messages, prophecies] and seen [perceived, prophesied] false [lying, deceptive] visions [revelations, inspirations], I am against [opposed to, set against] you, declares [says, affirms] the Lord [Adonay, God as Master] GOD [Yehovah]. word study 9 My hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] will be against the prophets [speakers for God, true or false] who see false [deceptive, vain] visions and speak lying [deceitful, untruthful] divinations [predictions, prophecies]. They will not belong to the council [gathering, assembly] of My people [nation, community] or be recorded [written, inscribed] in the register [book, record] of the house [family, household] of Israel [God’s chosen people], nor will they enter [come into, approach] the land [earth, territory] of Israel [promised land]. Then you will know [understand, recognize] that I am the Lord [Adonay, supreme ruler] GOD [Yehovah]. word study 10 Because [for this reason, therefore] they have led My people [nation, community] astray, saying [speaking, proclaiming], ‘Peace [shalom, completeness and wellness],’ when there is no [none, absence of] peace [true harmony], and whitewashing [applying a layer of plaster, covering up flaws] any flimsy [weak, unstable] wall that is built [constructed, established], word study 11 tell those [whitewashing with untempered mortar, daubing with chalk] whitewashing the wall that it will [certainly, surely] fall. Rain [a great shower, overflowing] will come in torrents [pouring down, gushing], I will send [great, large] hailstones [like pearls from God, ice-drops] plunging down, and a [stormy, tempestuous] windstorm will burst forth [tear it, rend it]. word study 12 Surely when the wall [physical or spiritual barrier] has fallen [collapsed, been defeated], you will not be asked [inquired of, questioned], ‘Where is the whitewash [coating, plaster] with which [by means of, through] you covered [overspread, smeared] it [the wall, the structure]?’ word study 13 Therefore [thus, in this manner] this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: In My [intense, burning] wrath [rage, fierce anger] I will release [break forth, unleash] a windstorm [tempest, stormy wind], and in My anger [fury, indignation] torrents [overflowing shower, abundant rain] of rain [shower, refreshing downpour] and hail [large pearls, icy stones] will fall [come down, descend] with destructive [consuming, annihilating] fury [rage, intense anger]. word study 14 I will tear down [overthrow, demolish] the wall [foundation, barrier] you whitewashed [plastered with untempered mortar, covered up flaws] and level it to the ground [make it even with the earth], so that its foundation [base, starting point] is exposed [revealed, laid bare]. The city will fall [come down, be defeated], and you will be destroyed [consumed, used up] within it [in the midst of it, as part of it]. Then you will know [understand, recognize] that I am the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God, having all power and authority]. word study 15 And after I have vented My [intense anger] wrath against the wall [barrier, partition] and against those who [applied a layer of, overspread with] whitewashed it, I will say to you: ‘The wall [fortification, structure] is gone [destroyed, no more], and so are those who [covered, daubed] whitewashed it— word study 16 those prophets [seers, receivers of visions] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob] who prophesied [spoke under divine influence] to [toward, in the direction of] Jerusalem [the city of peace] and saw [received, perceived] a vision [revelation, divine message] of peace [shalom, completeness and wellness] for her when there was [existed, was present] no [absence of] peace [shalom, harmony], declares [utters, speaks forth] the Lord [Adonay, the reverenced One] GOD [Yehovah].’ word study 17 Now, O son [descendant, human] of man [Adam, humanity], set [appoint, place] your face [presence, towards] against [toward, in opposition to] the daughters [women, female prophets] of your people [nation, community] who prophesy [speak under divine influence, predict] out of their own [inner, personal] imagination [heart, mind]. Prophesy [speak, declare] against [to, concerning] them word study 18 and tell them that this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: Woe [a cry of sorrow and judgment] to the women who sew [to mend or repair, using magical charms] magic charms [amulets, talismans] on their wrists and make veils [kerchiefs, head coverings] for the heads of people of every height [stature, size], in order to ensnare [to hunt, capture] their souls [the essence of a person, the living being]. Will you ensnare [to capture, trap] the souls of My people but preserve [to keep, save] your own [lives, existence]? word study 19 You have profaned [desecrated, polluted] Me among My people [nation, community] for handfuls [a small quantity] of barley [a type of grain] and scraps [morsels, pieces] of bread [food, sustenance]. By lying [deceiving, speaking falsely] to My people [those who listen, the faithful] who would listen [hear, obey], you have killed [slain, destroyed] those who should not have died [passed away, perished] and spared [preserved, saved] those who should not have lived [survived, remained]. word study 20 Therefore [in this manner, thus] this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: See, I am against the magic charms [pillows, amulets] with which you ensnare [hunt, trap] souls [living beings, persons] like birds, and I will tear [rend, violently remove] them from your arms. So I will free [release, let go] the souls [the essence of a person] you have ensnared [trapped, deceived] like birds. word study 21 I will also tear off your veils [kerchiefs, head coverings] and deliver My people [nation, those chosen by God] from your hands [power, control], so that they will no longer be prey [hunted, ensnared] in your hands [grasp, dominion]. Then you will know [perceive, understand] that I am the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 22 Because you have disheartened [grieved, caused sorrow] the righteous [just, upright] with your lies [deception, falsehood], even though I have caused them no grief [pain, distress], and because you have encouraged [strengthened, supported] the wicked [morally wrong, sinful] not to turn [return, repent] from their evil [bad, harmful] ways [path, manner of life] to save [preserve, keep alive] their lives [existence, being], word study 23 therefore [thus, in agreement] you will no longer see [perceive, prophesy] false [empty, useless] visions [divine revelations] or practice [engage in, use] divination [seeking guidance through witchcraft]. I will deliver [rescue, snatch away] My people [nation, tribe] from your hands [power, control]. Then you will know [ascertain, understand] that I am [exist as, am the essence of] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God].” word study