1   Some of the elders of Israel came to visit me, and while they sat with me the Lord said to me, 2    3   Man, these people have set their hearts on their idols and keep their eyes fixed on the sinful things that cause their downfall. 4   Am I to let such men consult me? Speak to them and tell them that these are the words of the Lord God: If any Israelite, with his heart set on his idols and his eyes fixed on the sinful things that cause his downfall, comes to a prophet, I, the Lord, in my own person, ^note shall be constrained to answer him, despite his many idols. 5   My answer will grip the hearts of the Israelites, estranged from me as they are, one and all, through their idols. 6   So tell the Israelites that these are the words of the Lord God: Turn away, turn away from your idols; turn your backs on all your abominations. 7   If any man, Israelite or alien, renounces me, sets his heart upon idols and fixes his eyes upon the vile thing that is his downfall—if such a man comes to consult me through a prophet, I, the Lord, in my own person, shall be constrained to answer him. 8   I will set my face against that man; I will make him an example and a byword; I will rid my people of him. Thus you shall know that I am the Lord. 9   If a prophet is seduced into making a prophecy, it is I the Lord who have seduced him; I will stretch out my hand and rid my people Israel of him. 10   Both shall be punished; the prophet and the man who consults him alike are guilty. 11   And never again will the Israelites stray from their allegiance, never again defy my will and bring pollution upon themselves; they will become my people, and I will become their God. This is the very word of the Lord God.

12    13   These were the words of the Lord to me: Man, when a country sins by breaking faith with me, I will stretch out my hand and cut short its daily bread. ^noteI will send famine upon it and destroy both men and cattle. 14   Even if those three men were living there, Noah, Danel ^note and Job, they would save none but themselves by their righteousness. This is the very word of the Lord God. 15   If I should turn wild beasts loose in a country to destroy its inhabitants, until it became a waste through which no man would pass for fear of the beasts, 16   then, if those three men were living there, as I live, says the Lord God, they would not save even their own sons and daughters; they would save themselves alone, and the country would become a waste. 17   Or if I should bring the sword upon that country and command it to go through the land and should destroy men and cattle, 18   then, if those three men were living there, as I live, says

Jerusalem's downfall certain the Lord God, they could save neither son nor daughter; they would save themselves alone. 19   Or if I should send pestilence on that land and pour out my fury upon it in blood, 20   to destroy men and cattle, then, if Noah, Danel and Job were living there, as I live, says the Lord God, they would save neither son nor daughter; they would save themselves alone by their righteousness.

21   These were the words of the Lord God: How much less hope is there for Jerusalem when I inflict on her these four punishments of mine, sword and famine, wild beasts and pestilence, to destroy both men and cattle! 22   Some will be left in her, some survivors to be brought out, both sons and daughters. Look at them as they come out to you, and see how they have behaved and what they have done. This will be some comfort to you for all the harm I have done to Jerusalem and all I have inflicted upon her. 23   It will bring you comfort when you see how they have behaved and what they have done; for you will know that it was not without reason that I dealt thus with her. This is the very word of the Lord God.

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