Judgment Not Postponed

17 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18 “Son of man, qeat your bread with 2quaking, and drink your water with trembling and anxiety. 19 And say to the people of the land, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the land of Israel: “They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink their water with dread, so that her land may rbe emptied of all who are in it, sbecause of the violence of all those who dwell in it. 20 Then the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall become desolate; and you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

21 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, t‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’? 23 Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will lay this proverb to rest, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.” But say to them, u“The days are at hand, and the 3fulfillment of every vision. 24 For vno more shall there be any wfalse 4vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25 For I am the Lord. I speak, and xthe word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and yperform it,” says the Lord God.’ ”

26 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 27 z“Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is afor many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ 28 bTherefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak cwill be done,” says the Lord God.’ ”