Judgment on Wicked Counselors

11 Then athe Spirit lifted me up and brought me to bthe East Gate of the Lord’s house, which faces eastward; and there cat the door of the gate were twenty-five men, among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. 2 And He said to me: “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked 1counsel in this city, 3 who say, ‘The time is not dnear to build houses; ethis city is the 2caldron, and we are the meat.’ 4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man!”

5 Then fthe Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said to me, “Speak! ‘Thus says the Lord: “Thus you have said, O house of Israel; for gI know the things that come into your mind. 6 hYou have multiplied your slain in this city, and you have filled its streets with the slain.” 7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: i“Your slain whom you have laid in its midst, they are the meat, and this city is the caldron; jbut I shall bring you out of the midst of it. 8 You have kfeared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you,” says the Lord God. 9 “And I will bring you out of its midst, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and lexecute judgments on you. 10 mYou shall fall by the sword. I will judge you at nthe border of Israel. oThen you shall know that I am the Lord. 11 pThis city shall not be your 3caldron, nor shall you be the meat in its midst. I will judge you at the border of Israel. 12 And you shall know that I am the Lord; for you have not walked in My statutes nor executed My judgments, but qhave done according to the customs of the Gentiles which are all around you.” ’ ”

13 Now it happened, while I was prophesying, that rPelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then sI fell on my face and cried with a loud voice, and said, “Ah, Lord God! Will You make a complete end of the remnant of Israel?”