For I, the Lord, affirm that I did not send them. They are prophesying lies to you. If you listen to them, I will drive you and the prophets who are prophesying lies out of the land and you will all die in exile.”

Work to see that the city where I sent you as exiles enjoys peace and prosperity. Pray to the Lord for it. For as it prospers you will prosper.’

Where now are the prophets who prophesied to you that the king of Babylon would not attack you or this land?

Now he has brought it about. The Lord has done just as he threatened to do. This disaster has happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him.

This city will not be a cooking pot for you, and you will not be meat within it; I will judge you at the border of Israel.

“Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel, ‘The days pass slowly, and every vision fails’?

I will vent my rage against the wall, and against those who coated it with whitewash. Then I will say to you, “The wall is no more and those who whitewashed it are no more –

“What do you mean by quoting this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “‘The fathers eat sour grapes And the children’s teeth become numb?’

“As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, you will not quote this proverb in Israel anymore!

Throw away all your sins you have committed and fashion yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why should you die, O house of Israel?

Ezekiel will be an object lesson for you; you will do all that he has done. When it happens, then you will know that I am the sovereign Lord.’

So this is what the sovereign Lord says: I vow that the nations around you will endure insults as well.

“‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Because they are saying to you, “You are a devourer of men, and bereave your nation of children,”

Understand that it is not for your sake I am about to act, declares the sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and embarrassed by your behavior, O house of Israel.

Say to the rebellious, to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Enough of all your abominable practices, O house of Israel!

The shekel will be twenty gerahs. Sixty shekels will be a mina for you.

“‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you will celebrate the Passover, and for seven days bread made without yeast will be eaten.

You must divide it equally just as I vowed to give it to your forefathers; this land will be assigned as your inheritance.

Then the Lord said: “Name him ‘Not My People’ (Lo-Ammi), because you are not my people and I am not your God.”

So will it happen to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness! When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be destroyed.